i
thursday, September 4, 1980
page 16
daily nebraskan
Sl2l?tiS
Melcher goes
from Scared'
to All-Big Eight
in volleyball
By Paula Clark
Nebraska's All-Big Eight player did not plan on going
out for volleyball or even attending UNL after graduating
from high school.
Plans, however, do change, and Lori Melcher can
testify to that.
Melcher, a recreational therapy major, graduated
from Beitrice High School in 1977 and came to Lincoln
to find a job and be independent. She said she was set to
enjoy being finished with school and sports, but an
"indescribable something" changed her mind.
When Melcher attended Beatrice, a Class A Nebraska
high school, she played volleyball as a hitter and gained
All-State status both her junior and senior years. Her
athletic abilities also carried over to basketball, where
she was named to the All-State roster her senior year.
'Scared to death'
Melcher enrolled at UNL in the fall of 1977 and al
though she said she was "scared to death," she tried
walking on the volleyball team were she joined 11
other freshmen and nine upperclass players. Today,
only three of those 12 freshmen remain on the
squad.
Head VoDeyball Coach Terry Pettit noted that both
Melcher's tangible and intangible athletic abilities have
improved.
"She relates well with her team and also under
pressure," he said. "Lori is a good college setter."
Melcher, who said she would rather set than hit, finds
college volleyball more exciting because of its speciali
zation. The most enjoyable things about playing at UNL,
Melcher said, is the relationships established with her
fellow team members.
As a setter, Melcher touches die ball on every offen
sive play. Setters can make the hitters, and consequent
ly the team, look better, Pettit said.
"Lori possesses that ability, she relaxes her team,"
he said.
'Shocked' at honor
Last year as a junior, Lori was "shocked" to learn
that she had made All-Big Eight. Pettit said Lori deserved
it because she performed better than the other setters.
During last spring's season, Pettit experimented with
a new offense, but because of surgery, Melcher was un
able to acquaint herself with the new offense. Melcher
attempted to make up for that on her own this summer
by setting 1 ,000 volleyballs each day.
In this, her last season, Melcher feels that she has to
go through extra workouts in order to do well in team
practices. Melcher said she hopes to improve her indivi
dual defensive play this year.
Being one of two setters for UNL, she said she wants
to be able to lead the team with confidence and be more
aware of the total game. Much of the team's
success will depend on the setter's abilities, she said, and
Melcher wants to provide the necessary leadership.
She said she feels this year the team's practices have
been, intense and this will allow, relaxed play. Melcher
says that the team knows its capabilities and has set
goals of winning the Big Eight title for the fifth straight
year and qualifying for the national tournament.
Cyclones hoping for change of luck
By Pat Beecham
As the 1980 football season draws near,
Iowa State Head Coach Donnie Duncan is
hoping for a little change of luck from
1979.
Last year the Cyclones were hit with
some injuries to key players, but Duncan
is looking for a much improved Iowa State
team this year.
"We're a better football team than we
were a year ago, and L expect that to be
reflected in our won-lost record," Duncan
said.
If the Cyclones are to do it this year, it
will have to be done with a young squad.
Iowa State has 72 freshmen and sopho
mores on their roster. Along with being
young, the team will be learning a new
offense and defense.
The Cyclones will be switching to
the multiple I on offense and the 4-3
alignment on defense. Duncan said he is
a little more concerned about the de
fense than the offense right now.
"Actually, the offense isn't totally new
to us," Duncan said. "We are using the I
but we are also incorporating motion and
shifting of the backs to give us added
dimension. Defensively, though, we don't
have a player on our campus who is a true
noseguard in the 50 defense."
The Iowa State offense will be led by
junior quarterback John Quinn. Quinn in
jured his knee a year ago and did not make
it through the whole season. However, he
did have a good spring and Duncan thinks
Quinn will be a good quarterback.
"I want him to be the best quarterback
in the Big Eight," Duncan said, "and he has
taken strides to be there." . -
The Cyclones also have a wealth of
running backs returning. They have six
letter winners returning along with two
freshmen and a junior college transfer who
rushed for over 1,800 yeard sin the junior
college ranks.
The Cyclones also appear solid at wide
receiver. They have both starting receivers
back from last year. Vinny Cerrato, who
was injured a year ago, will be back to fill
the flanker position and 6-7 Jim Knuth will
be the Cyclones starting split end.
Duncan also said he feels comfortable
with this year's offensive line.
"We concentrated on being able to
come off the ball and move people around
with base blocking," Duncan said. "We're
.pleased with the progress we have made."
Iowa State's decision to switch to the 4-4-3
defense was a result of the number of
big; strong defensive linemen they have this
year. They have six lettermen returning
along with what Duncan believes are some
good younger players.
"We have some solid players in the
defensive line and some promising young
ones coming in," Duncan said. "We have
a healthy, competitive situation at the
tackle and end spots."
The linebacker positions are of a little
more concern to Duncan. The Cyclones
only have two senior linebackers to go
along with the freshmen and sophomores.
Duncan figures- to start three sophomores
at the linebacker positions.
"The linebackers showed us some good
things this spring," Duncan said, "but they
were all prone to sophomoric mistakes.
With experience, this should be a good
group, but they have to mature in a hurry.
This is still an area of concern."
In the defensive backfield, Iowa State
appears to have some experience coming
back at the cornrs, but depth at this
postion could prove to be a problem
for the Cyclones with only three letter
men coming back at this position.
The strong safety job seems to be
in the hands of John Arnaud, who took
over the starting spot the last week of
spring drills. The free safety spot still seems
up for grabs, howeveer, with three of four
players still in the running for the position.
The place kicking job seems fairly secure
for the Cyclones, but "punting is a con
cern," according to Duncan.
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5)
Daily Nebraskan Photo
Jim Knuth, starting Cyclone split end
The UNL Soccer Club is looking for a coach. Anyone
interested may contact Phil Strevey at 476-3041. Soccer
practice scheduled Sunday through Thursday at 5 pm.
behind Mable Lee Hall.
Practice for UNL Boxers is scheduled Monday through
Thursday from 7 to 8:30 pjn. in the basement ot
Schramm Hall. All interested boxers are encouraged to
attend. For more information contact Randy Nelsen at
The season's first Extra Point Club luncheon is set for
11:30 ajn., Sept. 15 on the fifth floor of Brandeis 11th
and O Streets.The public is invited.
The luncheons will be every Monday and will feature
Nebraska Head Football Coach Tom Osborne and game
films.
The Rebounders Club is sponsoring a free pre-season
barbecue at 5:15 pjn. Sept. 14 at the Lincoln Moose
1980-81 UNL basketball team and new basketball
recruits. For more information contact Nancy at 472-2265.
The Utah Utes, Nebraska's first football opponent
this season, begin their season Saturday against Boise
State in Salt Lake City. Utah Head Coach Wayne Howard
is starting his fourth year at the Utes' helm. His three-year
record at Utah is 17-17. His eight-year record as a major
college head coach is 57-30. This is the first football
meeting between Utah and Boise State.
475-6144.
Lodge, 4yui N. 56tn st. ine club wfll introduce the
