Sports Editor
Peter Hockaday
peterhockaday@dailyemerald .com
Tuesday, October 1,2002
— Oregon Daily Emerald
Sports
On Wednesday
A memorial tribute for
Len Casanova, who died
Monday night at age 97
The (women’s)
P|®ii, ii>c
The women’s rugby team is one of the most
successful Club Sports programs and looks to
continue that success this season
Scott Archer
Sports Freelancer
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a weekly series
following the exploits of the University of Oregon
Club Sports program. A new sport will be featured
every Tuesday, so be sure to check this space.
After winning the Northwest league title and ad
vancing to the final 16 of nationals in Orlando, Fla.,
last year, the women’s rugby team could be content
to relish in last year’s success.
Gould be.
Gone are a handful of seniors that helped guide
the team to an undefeated Pacific Northwest League
record, including second-team All-American Jamie
Hampton. A tough loss? Maybe, but the return of
first-team All-American fly-half Erica Kelly nullifies
some of the loss in personnel.
“We have a lot of new people returning that did
quite well last year,” third-year head coach Greg
Farrell said. “We always have people that come in
and contribute, so to judge where we are is always
hard to do.”
Even with the loss of key players, the Ducks are
confident in their chances for 2002.
“We played well as underdogs, but it’s hard to be
on top,” Kelly said. “Everyone will be gunning for
us.”
Defending the league title won’t be easy for the
Ducks, especially with a late start to the season.
“We play Humboldt State Oct. 12, and with school
just starting for us, Humboldt
will have had several weeks of
practice to prepare,” Farrell
said.
The power in rugby has shift
ed to the west, and it will be im
portant for Oregon to get off to
a running start against its left
coast foes. West Coast power Chico State won the
2000 national title, so playing and gaining experi
ence from tough West Coast matches helps ensure
a team is battle-tested.
“We are looking to have as many non-league
games as possible,” Farrell said. “We want to see
what teams outside of our division are like. We can
take this opportunity to see how we measure up. We
hope to play Stanford, but nothing is finalized.”
Six teams make up the Pacific Northwest Rugby
Football Union, including Central Washington, Ore
gon State, Reed College, Washington State, Western
Washington and the Ducks.
“Personally, (playing) Oregon State is important
because it’s always a tough game, and my little sis
ter will be playing there,” Kelly said. “Reed College
will also be tough — they play dirty.
“Every year we lose girls that are irreplaceable.
We never know how it will go, but every year the
girls do amazing. We always want new girls to come
out and play. No experience is necessary.”
So exactly how will the 2002 season end up?
“We might have the upper hand this year,” Farrell
said. “The talent in the league is evening out. We are
not going to look anyone over. Teams did not think a
Turn to Club, page 17
Emerald
The Oregon rugby team reached the Sweet 16 of the national tournament last season.
Devils, Bears
questions for
Pac-10 season
Arizona State racks up 65 points with a new starter
against Stanford, while Cal is still an unknown
Pac-10 Notes
Peter Hockaday
Sports Editor
The place to be was Tempe on Saturday.
That’s where Oregon free safety Keith Lewis was, checking
out some friends who play for Arizona State and hanging with
former Duck linebacker Wesly Mallard, whose New York Giants
were in town to play the Arizona Cardinals.
Lewis and the rest of the crowd saw a wild-west shootout,
Pac-10 style.
Sun Devil quarterback Andrew Walter certainly packed his
revolver, or maybe his cannon, for the matchup with Stanford.
Walter, who previously had never started a game for Arizona
State, threw five different touchdowns to five different receivers
in the 65-24 romp. The win was sweet revenge for the Devils,
who fell to the Cardinal 51-28 in Palo Alto last season.
“So many guys made plays today and I think this team is de
veloping some confidence,” Arizona State head coach Dirk
Koetter told the Arizona Republic after the game.
Walter moved his pass-efficiency rating to 185.8 on the sea
son with the dazzling performance, and now leads the nation
in that category. The blowout was good news for the Devils, who
finished 4-7 last year. Arizona State is already 4-1 this season
and leading the Pac-10.
California Conundrum
California just continues to be the enigma of the Pac-10. Ever
since the Golden Bears opened the season with 70-22 win over
Turn to Pac-10, page 16
Adam Amato Emerald
Sophomore Lauren Westendorf goes up for a block against Portland Monday
The Ducks broke a five-match losing streak with the victory.
Ducks end
slump with
win at Mac
The Oregon volleyball squad ends a five
match losing streak with a four-game defeat
of Portland at McArthur Court Monday night
Volleyball
Hank Hager
Sports Reporter
Oregon’s five-match losing streak wasn’t
weighing heavily on the mind of the Ducks enter
ing Monday night’s match against Portland at
McArthur Court.
Instead, the Ducks said, it was just another con
test, another way to get to the 10-win plateau.
Oregon (10-8 overall, 0-4 Pacific-10 Conference)
fought off a pesky Portland (10-4) squad in front of
473 fans at Mac Court, taking the Pilots in four
games (30-28,35-33,27-30,30-27).
In a match reminiscent of Oregon’s loss to Cali
fornia Friday night, Portland constantly pushed the
Ducks to the brink, forcing four lead changes dur
ing the second game before Oregon could come
away with the victory. This time, however, Oregon
had enough energy in the end to stave off
late attacks.
“The Cal match taught us a lot,” sophomore Lau
ren Westendorf said. “We have to work hard
throughout the whole match.”
Four Oregon players reached double-digit kill
marks, led by junior Lindsay Closs’ 17. Freshman
Kelly Russell had 16, freshman Dariam Acevedo
Turn to Volleyball, page 17