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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1988)
Sports jm smmW*ask* had no l(&y^ performance from any miming rock until the Ari- . 10m Ssm game four weeks into the season. Rodgers showed die most improvement this season with slashing cuts through holes and tough mside running — the kind of which the Huskem&speraidy need if they are ever going to seriously contend for the national title. During Monday’s practice came one of Rodgers* best cuts* of the year. It was a cut durin bly jrasan sST? Volleyball team rebounds against KSU By Jeff A pel Senior Reporter A tempo change paid huge divi dends for the Nebraska volleyball team during a 15-9,15-11,15-8 win against Kansas State Wednesday night at the NU Coliseum. Nebraska volleyball coach Teny Peuil said the key to the Comhuskers’ straight-set victory was their ability to maintain a fast tempo. He said that tempo was a drastic change from a slow-paced one which hurt Nebraska during its loss to Oklahoma on Satur day. Peuil said Nebraska “dictated” the match against Kansas State with the America setter Lori Endicott. He said the tempo allowed die Buskers to play ‘Jarilyn played with a lot of confi dence. I though! she passed weM. Lori tends to play on Hte level of her defense, so Hud's something we have to empha size.' »» - iUM their style of match. Obermiller, who started in place of senior outside hitter Angie Millikin, finished with four digs and one set assist, while Endicott tallied 13 digs ami 35 of Nebraska’s 41 assists. “Jarilyn played with a lot of confi dence. I thought she passed well,” Pettit said. “Lori tends to play on the level of tier defense, so that’s some thing we have to emphasize." Pettit said Nebraska used im provements in ball handling and de fense to jump out to early leads in the first two games. He said the only dark spots for the Huskers were 14 service and 23 attack errors. But Pettit said the errors didn’t take anything away from Nebraska’s performance. “I thought our effort was good,” he said. “It’s a step in the right direc iion.” Kansas State coach Scott Nelson said his squad was doomed by incon sistent play. He said the Wildcats, who dropped to 8-7 overall and 0-2 in the Big Eight play, didn’t play well at critical times. ”1 don’t think we had a rhythm,” Nelson said. “We couldn’t pass or score. When you play in the Big Eight you have to play at* consistent level, which we didn’t do.” Nebraska jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first game. Middle blocker Linda Barsness had two kills and Endicotland outside hitter Val Novak each added tips to spark the quick start. Kansas State cut the Huskers* lead See VOLLEYBALL on 17 Wil d WIMams/bally Ntbraakin Gdowski Ward WHilams/Daliy Nebraskan Joseph Joseph, Gdowski anxious to duel By Mark Derowitsch Senior Reporter Mickey Joseph doesn’t want to forget about the rest of this season, but he’s already looking forward to Nebraska’s spring football practice and the results it will produce for next year. Joseph said the Comhuskers’ top priority will be replacing quarterback Steve Taylor during spring drills. And he thinks it will be a hard struggle between junior Gerry Gdowski and himself to see who emerges as the Huskers’ top quarterback. “It's going to be a rea! battle,” said Joseph, a redshirt freshman. “It’s going to be fun to go to practice because I don’t want to miss any of the battles. It might be a problem, but it will be better for the team. It will be a problem that makes the team better.” Gdowski said he'£ also looking forward to the duel with Joseph. The two quarterbacks are currently shar ing 2nd-tcam duties. “I think any athlete enjoys e chal lenge," Gdowski said. “It will be nice to compete with him.” But, Gdowski said, he should have the advantage going into spring prac tice. Both quarterbacks are listed at j No. 2 behind Taylor on the depth chart Gdowski entered fall camp as the back-up to Taylor, but Joseph began sharing that role during the last month 7 “I still think I'm e|.c solid No. 2,” Gdowski said. “I don’t think Mickey is No. 2.1 haven’t slipped.” Gdowski, a junior from Fremont, has rushed eight times for 57 yards this season. He’s also completed 2 of 3 passes for 19 yards and one touch down. _ ... ,, , Last year, Gdowski played in six games. He rushed 18 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed one pass for eight yards. either of us.” Joseph, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound player from Marrero, La., said he’ll have to avoid making little mistakes in order to take over when Tayloi leaves. “Gerry doesn't make mistakes.” he said. *He doesn’t go in there and mess up. Even in practice, Gerry makes less mistakes than I do. But I’m getting better.” Gdowski_Joseph Last season, Joseph sat out as k redshirt. Gdowtki play <9! in six games behind Steve Taylor and Clete Blakeman, and rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on IS carries. He hit one of two passes for 18 yards. John Brae* and An* ManharVOaWy Nebraskan Gdowski said he $ pleased with his progress this year. ‘There’s always room for im provement,’’ Odowski said. “1 think I’ve played steady, but I feel good about my progress." Gdowski said he has to improve even more to earn the startipg job next season. ‘‘I think I’ll win it and Mickey thinks he'll win it," he said. “That’s die best attitude to have when you're competing for something. But who ever comes out on top wilfbe fine with Joseph said sometimes, he tries U) make too much happen when he’s in a game. “The offense is harder than the one I ran in high school,’’ he said. “I never pitched the ball in my life until I came here. But we have a power game and that intimidates a lot of people. 1 usually get to take two steps and then I have to pilch the ball.’’ Joseph said he would rather run out of the wishbone instead of the “1“ formation because he ran the wish bone at New Orleans Shaw High School. “We (Nebraska) can beat you slowly with kind of offense we use,” Joseph said. “But the wishbone is such a big-play offense.” During his senior year at Shaw, he rushed 153 times for 947 yards. He also passed for 1,135 yards and 12 •touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named the Louisiana’is offensive player of the year. This season, Joseph has rushed for 71 yardfc on six attempts. He com pleted the only pass he’s thrown for 7 yards. Joseph was rated the best high school option quarterback in 1986. This accomplishment, and the fact that he was highly recruited has caused Nebraska fans to overreact when he enters a game, he said. “All the other players tell me that I’m the crowd favorite,” he said. ‘ When I go in, I hear them. But after that, I don’t hear them anymore.” Joseph said he’s glad Nebraska coach Tom Osborne is bringing him along slowly. Ha said he wouldn’t enjoy playing in a pressure situation this year, but he is looking forward to those situations next season. “1 wouldn’t like going in if Steve got hurt,” he said. “I like going in mere with the game in control, be cause 1 can learn to relax.” On the other hand, Gdowski said he would enjoy trying to play under pressure tfck season. But he doesn’t want u> play as a result of an injury to Taylor.