Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012, September 22, 2003, SECTION E, Page 15E, Image 86

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    VOLLEYBALL
continued from page 3E
The Ducks are coming off an 11
21 season, including a 1-17 confer
ence record. The low point of 2002
came after the season ended and six
players either transferred or left for
personal reasons. With only five
players returning, the importance of
recruiting has magnified.
The coaching staff didn't have to
look far, as six of the nine incoming
freshmen are from in-state. Heading
the group is fab-50 setter Heather
Madison, who led Gresham High
School to two consecutive state titles
and was named first team All-Ameri
can and Oregon player of the year as
a senior.
Madison will have the benefit of
learning from fab-50 sophomore set
ter Jodi Bell, who was Oregon’s New
comer of the Year last season.
"Being a setter with Heather is an
amazing experience," Bell said. "She's
a scrappy player. She gets to balls that
you shouldn't be able to get to.”
Other freshmen include defensive
specialists Stephanie Alleman,
Kandice Feola and Allyson Leavitt and
middle blockers Kristen Bitter and
Kim McNally.
Hawaii native Sarah Mason, out
side hitter Erin Little of Victoria, B.C.,
and setter Callan Janowiec, who was
named the 2002 Alaska Gatorade
player of the year, complete the talent
ed group of freshmen.
Along with Bell, several players
form a solid nucleus of returning ath
letes, including junior outside hitter
Lauren Westendorf, junior libero
Katie O'Neil, sophomore middle
blocker Kelly Russell and sophomore
offensive hitter Jaclyn Jones.
Ferreira said it's up to the coaching
staff and returning players to assume
a leadership role on the young team.
Westendorf, who has been one of
the Ducks' strongest athletes, said
she has improved each season
through a tireless work ethic and is
looking to better her 1.9 kills per
game last season.
"Lauren's progress has been excep
tional," Ferreira said. "We expect an
other big jump."
O'Neil, who was also a fab-50 play
er at Gresham, has been an "anchor
on the whole situation," Ferreira said.
Playing the libero position, O'Neil is
n't noticed statistically, but her leader
ship on and off the court has helped
the Ducks immensely.
Though the future looks bright, the
Ducks are looking to the present and
trying to improve on a 3-51 Pac-10
record over the past three seasons.
"We are focusing on the here and
now," Westendorf said. "We're tak
ing what we have now and running
with it."
Contact the sports reporter
at jonroetman@dailyemerald.com.
www.dailyemerald.com
Oregon Daily Emerald.
A campus tradition-over 100 years of publication.
Emerald
Junior libero Katie O’Neil, who improved her career-high to 19 digs in a game last
season and is now a seasoned veteran, will lead Oregon on defense.
Final Ducks Points
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HAGER
continued from page IE
Ducks have been competitive in foot
ball and basketball.
Even other programs have begun to
show signs of life, making a believer of
even the most pessimistic of fans.
The hard part now comes with
complacency. When all is said and
done, Oregon will have two first-class
facilities: Autzen and the new Mac.
1 low the players and coaches treat
the situation will be of utmost impor
tance. Will the memories of McArthur
Court and the pre-remodeled Autzen
Stadium be deep in their minds?
And even now, with the new arena
on the horizon, can the two programs
keep the excitement coming. Can Ore
gon football shed off last year's mid
dling 7-6 season like a bad cold, or
will it fall prey to Nebraska syndrome?
Can Duck basketball forgive and
forget Luke Ridnour, take its run
and-gun offense all the way to the
Pacific-10 Conference Tournament,
then the NCAA version?
Chances are both teams will prove
that last year was more a fluke than
anything else, but with Oregon's
greatest symbol of success close to
faiition, keeping the sense of pride to
which the University has grown ac
customed will be vital.
It is important to keep rolling like
the past five years so that the new are
na will have a fan base comparable to
the number of its seats. If there are
15,000 seats at the new Mac, then there
should be 15,000 people at the game.
If there's less than that, it will
cheapen the value of the team's suc
cess. There's nothing worse than
building a state-of-the-art facility that
fails to be sold out.
Autzen's expansion went well de
spite the season of discontent. The
blueprints are in place for attracting
fans in droves.
But regardless of what the Oregon
programs do in the Casanova Center,
winning is the thing that will keep the
success and the fans coming out like
never before.
If that doesn't keep happening, the
symbol of success goes down the hill.
It would be hard to see what $ 130
million would look like then.
Contact the sports editor
at hankhager@dailyemerald.com.
Mis opinions do not necessarily
represent those of the Emerald.
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