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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2003)
Sports Editor: Hank Hager hankliager@dailyemerald.com Thursday, Oaober 9, 2003 Oregon Dailv Emerald SPORTS Best bet MLB playoffs: Boston at N.Y. Yankees 5 p.m., FOX Somewhere to run Magdalena Sandoval feels at home at Oregon, even if it took a detour for her to reach Eugene By Scott Archer Freelance Reporter There was a time when things weren't so clear for Magdalena Sandoval. As a senior out of Los Alamos high school in Los Alamos, N.M., the talented cross country runner wasn't planning on at tending Oregon. In fact, Sandoval wasn't even going to be near the West Coast. She chose Rice University, a small private school in Houston, Texas. "I discovered it was the wrong place for me," Sandoval said. "1 really have no regrets about attending Rice. It helped me find what was important to me. 1 chalk it up to experience." Sandoval was recruited out of high school by former cross country coach lorn Heinonen, and shortly after discovering she didn't prefer Rice anymore, Sandoval made the call to Eugene. "I'm absolutely 100 percent sure Oregon is the right place for me," Sandoval said. "I love it here; I really do love it." It seems the toughest adjustment for Sandoval has been the weather. "I'm leery of the rain, but I'm able to handle it," she said. There doesn't seem to be much the senior can't handle. Af ter all, Sandoval has led Oregon in its past two races. San doval finished second at the Sundodger Invitational and the Willamette Invitational. Her passions reach much farther than running. The oldest of six children, the senior loves to cook and has a strong in terest in photography. A double major in geology and pho tography, she finds time to make "pumpkin cheesecake, pizza dough, vegetable pizzas with my own pizza sauce and veg gies, three inches thick." Sandoval hasn't had much success in other sports, though. "I don't have any hand-eye coordination," Sandoval said. "So, soccer and basketball were out." That left swimming and cross country, but it didn't start out that way. "In seventh grade, I moved from discus and high jump to the mile in track," Sandoval said. "From there, I went to crosscountry." It turned out to be the right move. "I knew I wanted to run in college," Sandoval said. "I like to compete." It was geology that kept Sandoval away from her team mates and new coach Mamie Mason during the recent sum mer months. "I interned at the Los Alamos National Laboratory," Turn to RUN, page 14 Lauren Wimer Photographer Senior Magdalena Sandoval has taken the lead in Oregon’s last two races. Emerald Former Duck David Jackson (left) returns to McArthur Court tonight when the Blazers play the Kings. He averaged 3.5 points per game in two seasons with Oregon. Former UO guard ready for return trip to Mac with Blazers Since graduating from Oregon, David Jackson has played professionally in three foreign countries By Hank Hager Sports Editor When David Jackson trans ferred from Utah to Oregon in 1999, the Ducks were just a few years away from starring in the NCAA Tournament. The Portland native played two seasons with Oregon, ending his career in 2001. Jackson, however, got the chance to step on the floor just 17 times in those two seasons with the Ducks. Injuries hindered the former Wilson High School star from establishing any kind of presence with Oregon. Tonight, he will get the chance to step on the McArthur Court floor again when the Port land frail Blazers take on the Sacra mento Kings in an exhibition game. Ihe first tip is set for 7 p.m. "1 love playing at Mac Court," Jackson said. "When you play your home games at Mac, it's kind of like you and your fans against the world." Jackson began his collegiate ca reer with Utah. He played in 32 games for the 1997-98 Utesteam, which ended up losing the na tional title game to Kentucky that season, 78-69. I le transferred to Oregon after his sophomore season and played Turn to BLAZERS, page 14 Ferreira, Ducks set for return to Mac The Oregon volleyball team returns home to face the Washington schools after two months on the road By Jon Roetman Sports Reporter After playing 12 of its first 14 matches on the road, the Oregon volleyball team is glad to be home. The Ducks play five of their next sev en matches at McArthur Court, in cluding contests with Washington State and Washington this weekend. After tough road losses to UCLA, USC and Oregon State, Oregon is looking for ward to having crowd support back on its side. "We really need the fans," Oregon head coach Carl Ferreira said. "It's been almost two months (of traveling). The fans mean so much in terms of your energy and in terms of your atmosphere so playing in Mac Court is very special in and of itself. 'The fans are truly awesome for a young team," he said. Oregon (3-11 overall, 0-5 Pacific-10 Con ference) will travel to Arizona after battling the Washington schools, then it's back home for matches against UCLA USC and Oregon State starting on Oct. 23. Friday's match against Washington State will be a battle of young teams fighting for respect. The Cougars had a 2-0 lead over the No. 8 Bruins before falling in five games on Saturday. I«rreira said he hopes Oregon fans will come support the Ducks the way Wash ington State fans support the Cougars. "With Washington State and Oregon you have two similar styles of teams," Fer reira said. "There's a lot of youth in both teams, and there's a lot of learning going on in terms of what it is you want to ac complish and why. "Washington State has the best volley ball atmosphere in the conference." Saturday's match against the No. 13 Huskies will present the Ducks with yet another opponent ranked in the top 25. Washington is 11-4 but has lost four matches in a row to top 15 teams. "(The 1 luskies) run a nice effective sys tem," Ferreira said. "Ihey score points, they minimize errors. They play within them selves very well." DUCK VOLLEYBALL Bitter's block party The Ducks have been getting solid play from middle blocker Kristen Bitter. The 6 foot-4-inch freshman from Roseburg has been a block machine of late, including six in last Thursday's Civil War. She also had five solo blocks on Aug. 30 against Tem ple, which stands as the highest solo block total for a Pac-10 player this season. "Kristen's been exceptional," Ferreira said. "She has a very, very high learning curve in terms of providing her with infor mation and her ability to turn around and apply that information. "1 don't think she's had a bad day in two months." With a jump touch of 10-feet-3-inches, Bitter has a size and athletic ability that Turn to VOLLEYBALL, page 14
