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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2000)
Thursday Best Bet World Series Game 5 New York vs. New York 5p.m., Fox SPORTS EDITOR: JEFF SMITH Smittside@aol.com Natural Born Killer Erin Swanson-Davies Emerald Junior Monique Tobbagi sixth in the Pac-10 with nearly four kills per game. She is relishing the role as one of Oregon’s key leaders this season. By Adam Jude Oregon Daily Emerald Bump, set, spike. That's how it typically goes in volley ball. When Monique Tobbagi is on the floor, however, the scenario is a little different. It’s more like: Bump, set, hide. At times, opposing players probably wish they could sneak under the hard wood floor to avoid a fierce blow from the lethal right arm of the junior outside hitter. As one of the most aggressive at tackers in the Pacific-10 Conference, To bbagi has been known to intimidate a few opponents by bouncing balls off their foreheads. “It’s great to see Monique ricochet those balls off peoples’ bodies,” Oregon head coach Carl Ferreira said. “I don’t mind a little arcade pin ball action. It stimulates Mo and the rest of us. “She can definitely bring the heat.” The 20-year-old from San Jose, Calif., has revealed signs of a pure killing ma chine at times this season. In a five game match against California earlier this year, Tobbagi tallied a career-high 27 kills, 15 digs and four blocks. Mo, as her teammates call her, has recorded a double-double in seven matches this season, and nearly had another in the Ducks’ first Pac-10 win of the season at Oregon State last Friday. “When I’m going up to the net, I’m just looking to terminate a rally or get us a point,” said Tobbagi, who is sixth in the Pac-10 with 3.89 kills per game. “But whatever happens, we don’t want the ball back.” All this recent success comes after Tobbagi sat out much of the 1999 cam paign with a leg injury. “That was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever gone through,” she said. “I hated not being able to contribute.” Tobbagi also sat out much of spring training earlier this year, and Ferreira said he considered having her redshirt this season because the injury was still hampering her. But, almost magically, the injury dis appeared. However, in a preseason tour nament match in Texas, Tobbagi suf fered another set-back. After diving for a Tu rn to Tobbagi, page 9A After missing much of 1999 with an injury, junior attacker Monique Tobbagi has put together a stellar season — and is ready to prove to the world that she’s capable of much “Mo” VOLLEYBALL raiu tne latest duck to be honored as player of week Oregon players continue to rack up awards as their team continues to impress on a nationwide scale By Jeff Smith Oregon Daily Emerald It has turned into a routine for the Oregon football team. The Ducks play a good game, win and then receive individual awards a few days later. “Winning all of these awards is just a testament to what kind of a football team we have,” linebacker Matt Smith said. The latest to receive an award is defensive end Saul Patu, who became the fifth Duck this season to be named Pacific-10 Confer ence player of the week. Patu was named the top defensive player after his dominating performance in Oregon’s 14 10 victory over Arizona. In the game, the senior from Seattle punished the Wildcat offense with seven tackles, four of which went for lost yardage. Patu agrees with Smith in that the honor is a credit to the entire de fense, but still feels proud to be singled out. “It was awesome that I got it since it was my first one,” Patu said. “And it was excit ing not just for me, but for my family and the rest of the defensive players, who are also like my family.” Head coach Mike Bellotti mentioned how it was a long time coming for Patu to re ceive the honor. “He deserves that com pletely,” Bellotti said. “He’s had many memorable games but that certainly was one of his best. He's such a good leader and hard worker, and Turn to Football, page 9A Catharine Kendall Emerald Senior defensive end Saul Patu (48) goes all out to bring down Arizona quarterback Ortege Jenkins (16) last Saturday. Patu recorded seven tackles against the Wildcats and was named the Pacific-10 Conference defensive player of the week.
