Paga 0 Daily Nobraskan Wednesday, February 20, 1SS5 D(H)irfe Senior returnees bolster Nebraska softball team Playing a season opening game on "With the exception of our three the road in a tournament described as losses, I was pretty happy with the way "the toughest in the Midwest" is no we performed last fall," Daigle said." coach's dream. "Hopefully, we'll be able to carry that success into our spring season." But that's what Nebraska softball And with a veteran starting lineup coach Wayne Daigle must do when his consisting of five seniors, a junior and Comhuskers open their season in the two sophomore3, plus a pitching staff powerful Sooner Invitational in less he describes as "good as any in the than a month. country," Diagles' hope for success could become reality. i n "Basically, the Sooner Invitational is the strongest tournament in the Mid west," Daigie said, "Almost all cf the Big Eight schools, plus the Arizona schools, and Texas A&M (which fin ished last season as the runner-up to the national champion UCLA Bruins) will be there, so it should give us some excellent competition." To prepare themselves for both the Sooner Invitational and the rest of their 50 game spring schedule, the Buskers played a 24-game fall sche dule, which included matchups against national power Oklahoma State (which finished last season ranked No. 3) and Texas A&M, as well as a three-game series with their biggest in-state rival, the Creighton Bluejays. Despite the somewhat demanding schedule, the Huskers came away with a 21-3 record, including a three-game sweep of Creighton (7-0, 5-0 and 9-2), a 1-0 upset victory over Texas A&M and a two game split with Oklahoma State (2-1 loss followed by a 1-0 win). "We've definitely got a lot of return ing experience," he said. "In fact, you could even call us a senior ball club because cf all the returning starting seniors we have thi.i year." The team includes catcher LisaBusby, pitcher Mori Emmons, shortstop Dcnise Eckert, thirdbascman Ann Schroeder and outfielders Wendy Turner ar.d Stacy Sunny. In addition, senior pitcher-outfielder Peg Richardson, although not a starter, will see considerable playing time. "All of those girls are just tremendous athletes," Daigle said of his seven seniors." "They're a pleasure to coach and I'm sure when they leave it will have a tremendous impact on my program." The starting non-seniors include freshman pitchers Donna Diardorf and Lori Sipplesbphomore inflelders Amy Love and Lori Eichins and junior out fielder Heidi Schlabach. Nebraska athlete joins Olympic volleyball team , ?'' I in 1 Cz&fcy Noth, former Hesker, makes United Stales national team. Nebraska's Cathy Noth made a goal two years ago to try out for the national volleyball team. Last week in Colorado Springs, Colo., the 5-9 outside hitter-setter not only got the chance, she made the team. Noth, a native ofEettendort Iowa, was one of nine players chosen for the national team which will begin practice fcr the 1SS3 Olympics in June. . Noth, who started for Nebraska four consecutive years, will join Palmyra's Julie Vollertsen to give Nebraska two representatives on the squad. Vollertsen Is one of three 1934 Olympians who will return. "This 13 the uliiraate," Noth said. "IVe reached ail my gods. I've been an All-American twice, and now I'm going to play in the Olympics." Over 65 players tried out for the 12-member team from Tuesday through Saturday last week. Noth was one of the first four player3 selected by new national Coach Terry Lyskevych. Ironically, Lyskevych coached Pacific to a victory over Nebraska in the quarterfinals of last year's NCAA tournament. In 11 years cf collegia te coaching, Lyskevych had a 315-92 record. The national team will play an exhibition against the Korean nationals March 25, and play in a spring break tournament in Canada. Noth plans to join the team full-tima June 1. Pep band should learn new songs Last year the Huskers claimed both "With the amount of talent and the Eig Eight tournament and the experience we have this year," Daigle Midwest regional tournament cham- said, "we should definitely be strong pionships, as well as third-place finish contenders for not only the Big Eight in the College World Series. title, but the national title as well." There seems to be a growing grum bling among Nebraska basketball fans over the team's recent performances. As usual, people find it easy to attack the coach and anything else in sight to make excuses for the losses. At Saturday's game in Manhattan, I too finally buckled under and admitted an obvious shortcoming our basketball program has, and putting in personals against Moe Iba or anyone else won't change this one. The problem is the band. Don't get me wrong. There's a lot of things concerning Nebraska basket ball I consider more important than how the band sounds. The current los iJS streak, the hot dogs and why Maurtice Ivy stopped wearing those kneepads on her ankles are among those things I consider more impor tant. I also consider alot of things more important than Nebraska basketball, such as the job interviews that may keep me from seeing the last two home games. At first, I was a little disappointed over missing those games. But, on second thought, at least I won't have to hear "Great Ealls of Fire," "Wabash Cannonball" and "Hawaii Five-O" again. The Xansas State band, which is at a disadvantage anyway since they don't have our numbers and have to wear that god-awful purple, not only played two of those (I don't think anyone else still plays Hawaii Five-O), but also played, among others, "When Doves Cry," "Rosanna," "Thriller" and "09 Red Balloons." None of these songs are classics, but at least it was something different. Somebody at Kansas State is taking the time to learn these new songs instead of Meeting out the same old stuff over and over and over again. Most of the Kansas State songs were played during pre-game warm-ups, but the nicest thing they did all evening was the national anthem. It was, in the words of our normally spiteful photo grapher Mark Davis, "downright inspi rational." I don't have the musical training to describe exactly what they did different from our band, but I do have some observational training that allowed me to notice the Kansas State crowd actually paid attention to it, and afforded the small group much more than polite applause. As a student journalist, I know there's only so much time to do much of value. Yes, even here at the Daily Nebraska!, even we are prone to do easy predictable stories more often than actually getting out and finding a story that is really original and worth while. Tims simply doesn't allow it. At that point, I can understand the situation facing the UNL pep band and its leaders. Like us, they probably do want to be as good as Kansas State or anybody else, but don't have the time to think up new songs and work up fresh material that you may or may not like. Continued ess ?&t:z 9 M en's gymnastics coach sees cnampionsniD aneaa Cagers malw All-Academic team The national rankings for men's gymnastics came out on Monday. Coach Francis Allen said they couldn't have come at a better time. The Huskers are ranked third behind Ohio State and Penn State, the only two teams thi3 season to defeat the Huskers. Allen said the only event that needs some adjustments is pommel horse. "We are at that time of year where we will make some small adjustments in ail the rou tines," Allen said. "We will take out the really tough things in the pommel horse that are giving the guys problems, but we do that every year." This week, the Huskers travel to the West Allen said if his team can come through this Coast for two important iirvitationds. On Wed- rcad trip successfully, they will have a good shot . . . . . . . .... . A I ll l! 1 . 5L . 9 t nesaay tney compete at t&i state i ullertcn, ana wuuung ue Esaionai Friday in the UCLA Invitational. "Tills road trip will be very important because every team we see this week is ranked in the top 20," Allen said, "But I think if we compete well at these meets, it will be an extra boost cf confidence to our team." The Nebraska women's basketball team will meet Iowa State tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Bob Devtney Sports center. Tickets for the game are $3 for adults and $2 for students. The women's team is 3-6 in the Big Eight, while Iowa State is 1-8. The Cyclones beat Nebraska in Ames last month. Three Huskers were named to the Big Eight's All-Academic team Tuesday. SenicrTerri Parriott was named to the first tean with a 4.0 in pre-med last semester. Parriott, a forward from Ventura, Calif., hss a cumulative grade point average of 3.75. Senior Cathy Owen of Ventura made the second team with a 3.51, 83 did sophomore Stacy Immiiig of Kearney. Owen majors in business; administration, while framing majors in educa tion. Both Owen and Parriott mads the district VII All-Academic team last week, and both are candidates for the All-American Adacsxnic lean. Our hearty congratulations to them splendid ttZZZZT TERRI PARRIOTT The Fullerton meet includes, New Mexico, ranked fifth, Arizona State, ranked fourth and Stanford, ranked 16th. The UCLA meet includes the sixth-ranked Brains, Minnesota, New Mesieo and Arizona State. "Once we est a good lock at UCLA and New Mexico, we will get a good idea of what to expect at the NCAA's," Allen said. Allen said his team must score better than last weekend to win both meets. Last weekend at Neman, the Huskers were behind both Ic?;a State and Oklahoma until the parallel b rs when Mike Epperson and Wes Suter tied for first place with 9.8 scores. The Huskers best OklsliCTa 273.3 to 27S.C5. W- Sf v--a vVii. fci. i ,- k St- t Tcrri Tzrzit cz.il 1 f zt iz Li tt-2 C . I! ; a Fr n:tt, a r.c: : : ? .7: ' V'r.ri, t - .-.j, .j. C Vt ,i wj .... A cu tt$ r.l-tw? ret-: ?. z crrt ' ?. TvTii rz a tvt'.rv5 All CJ:r?i tr tcl.z';:,:z lX::z:iz?, r;:'i t2 veil af : ""-si ,' ... kJ .jj t 1 j . . p niliz.ilzLi ere-! r; l.'.'i r; ic . - ft V . 5 ? r I : . 1 .... JL . 1:1 1 -it - .! J 1 J ' ' 'I , . - tiT, " f" . v 2 1 3 M . . i' 4 , - ... t Tcrri Perrictl - o Vsr Cf,f