Sports
Friday, September 16, 1994 Page 12
I-back will feel right at home in UCLA’s end zone
NU’s Phillips will
face his hometown
team on his turf
By Pffc Samson_
Senior Reporter
The UCLA Bruins can’t be too excited about
seeing Nebraska l-back Lawrence Phillips Sat
urday.
Phillips, who saw his first extensive playing
time in the Comhuskers’ 14-13 win at UCLA
last year, will have just as much incentive to
morrow.
The sophomore from West Covina, Calif., a
suburb of Los Angeles, came off the bench last
year because of Calvin Jones’ injury to rush for
137 yards.
“I know about five or six players on the
UCLA team that were on my Shrine Bowl
team,” Phillips said. “I’ll be looking forward to
seeing them and playing against them.
“UCLA recruited me some in the beginning,
but then they quit once I told them I wasn’t
going there.
“I know a lot of people from back home will
be watching so I just want to have a good game.
It would be fun to have a good game against
people I know.”
The UCLA game last year marked the begin
ning of Phillips’ freshman season, in which he
racked up 508 yards on 92 carries.
Phillips said he was grateful he left Califor
nia to go to college, especially after becoming a
starter after a little more than a year at Nebraska.
“When I first committed to Nebraska, (Derek)
Brown and (Calvin) Jones were talking about
staying so I already knew I was going to prob
ably redshirt,” he said. “Then all of the sudden
Derek decided to go to the pros so I knew I had
at least a chance last year to play at the No. 2
spot. Calvin leaving this year left the No. I spot
open.
“(Nebraska) was definitely a good choice.
I’m starting for a team that’s either No. I or 2 in
all the polls. I think that probably proves it was
a good decision.”
That good decision should continue to pay
dividends against UCLA, Phillips said.
Despite the big numbers Phillips put up
against UCLA last year, the Bruins may be
seeing much more of him this year.
“I think they’ll definitely refer back to last
year’s film because that was the only game I
played a lot in, and now I’m the starter,” Phillips
Michelle Paulman/DN
Nebraska l-back Lawrence Phillips, who rushed for 137 yards against UCLA last season, hopes to spend a lot of time In
the end zone this season. Phillips Is the Comhuskers’ leading rusher this season.
said. “But I think they’re going to be more
concerned with Tommie Frazier. Fle’s been
carrying the team a lot. Their first priority will
be Frazier, not me.”
Phillips said he felt the Husker running game
was where it should be; now the Huskers needed
to improve their passing.
“I think we got to the right level running-wise
against Texas Tech, but I think we’re going to
have to step up our passing," he said. “I don’t
think we’ll be able to run over every team.
Personally, I think I just have to keep doing
what I’m doing. I think UCLA will be trying to
press the run so we’ll have to pass more.”
Part of the passing responsibility lies on the
shoulders of the Husker running backs, Phillips
said.
He said screen passes to the l-backs may be
a necessity against UCLA.
“I really like those (screen passes) because it
kind of opens up the run a little bit,” he said. “I
think we’re going to have to use that Saturday.
The linebackers have to respect us going out to
the flat. They (the passes) always count for
positive yardage, and it’s almost a sure comple
tion.”
Even though Phillips is missing the chance
for a another homecoming at the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena, Calif., he said he was glad the Bruins
would be coming to Lincoln this season.
“I’d much rather be here,” he said.‘‘It will be
nice to finally play a home game. The crowd
will really be into it, and it’s the kind of game
where the crowd can really help. It’s going to be
a tough game, and we can use all the support we
can get.”
Texas coach expresses'
fright, respect for NU
By ciay anon
Staff Reporter
The Nebraska volleyball team
heads down south for the Louisiana
State Invitational this weekend.
Respect and fear from the compe
tition will greet the Huskers as they
arrive in Baton Rouge, La.
“I’m afraid to watch them,” Texas
Tech coach Mike Jones said. “They
are one of the best teams in the coun
try, and that is very frightening.
“We are just going to bring our
crash helmets and chest protectors for
them.”
Texas Tech will face Nebraska to
night in a 5:30 p.m match. The Red
Raiders are 3-5 on the season, and
Nebraska has never lost to them.
Louisiana State coach Scott Lus
ter, whose team will face the Huskers
Saturday at 7:30 p.m., shares Jones’
view.
“I’ve thought since last year that
this would be the year for Nebraska,”
Luster said. “They have been playing
very consistent, and they are defi
nitely towards the top of Division I."
The LSU Invitational consists of
the Huskefc, LSU, Texas Tech and
Maryland. The Huskers’ only other
trip to the tournament was in 1983,
when they won the invite. LSU is 3-3
on the season, and Maryland is 4-3.
“Nebraska is the favorite, obvi
ously, but I also believe that LSU
could be some competition for them,”
“I'm afraid to watch
them. They are one of
the best teams in the
country, and that is very
frightening. ”
■
MIKE JONES
Texas Tech coach
Jones said. “I just hope that we put
forth our best effort against them.”
Luster also considers the Huskers
the clear favorite, even though his
team will be playing at home.
“They will not only be the favorite
for our tournament, but along with
Stanford, Penn State, Ohio State and
Florida, they will be in the hunt for the
national title,” he said.
The Tigers are looking to grow
from the experience of playing the
No. 2 Huskers, Luster said.
“We look at it this way, our sched
ule has us playing seven of the top
nine teams in the nation, and that is
going to help us in the long run,” he
said. “Definitely competition like
Nebraska is good for our team. It is
important to make a good showing
against them, and it is exciting be
cause you are playing the best.”
Baton Rouge, La.
Nebraska will play Texas
Tech Friday at 5:30 p.m.,
Maryland Saturday at noon,
and LSU at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday.
Nebraska.H.
S Christy Johnson 5-8 Jr.
OH Billie Winsett I 5-11 Jr.
OH Kelly Aspe^W'
OH Maria HpdbeGk/y
MB AUlson Weston )
MB Jen McFaddenjJ
Texas Tech..
5 Ginger Carter 5-7 Sr.
OH Diane Owens 5-9 Jr.
OH LacyNye 5-7 So.
OH Cristine Martin 6-0 So.
MB Jennifer Cohn 6-0 Jr.
MB Jill Slapper 6-0 Jr.
^Nebraska went 3-0 against LSU
last season and has never lost to
the Tigers in four career meetings.
^Nebraska is 4-0 against Texas
Tech.
6 Maryland is coached by Janice
Kruger, a former Nebraska
letterwinner from 1975-76. The
Huskers are 1 -0 against the
Terrapins.
DN graphic
Lady Huskers to face LSU
By Mitch Sherman
Senior Reporter
The 6-0 Nebraska volleyball team
puts its perfect record on the line this
weekend in Baton Rouge, La., at the
Tiger Classic, hosted by Louisiana
State.
Nebraska will play Texas Tech, 3
5, at 5:30 p.m. on Friday night. On
Saturday, the Comhuskers take on
Mary land, 4-3, at noon, and play LSU,
3-3, at 7:30 p.m.
The Huskers, ranked third by Vol
leyball Monthly and second in the
American Volleyball Coaches Asso
ciation poll, have won 18 of 19 games
in six matches this season. Their lone
loss came in the third game of last
Saturday’s win over No. 8 Arizona
State.
Coach Ferry Pettit said the team is
placing little emphasis on individual
games this season. In fact, Pettit said
the team isn’t even concerned about
focusing on each match.
“We are not focusing on how easy
we win games,” he said. “We have
spent three days of practice this week
on ourselves. We normally will take a
day and spend it on preparation. We
have spent the week working on things
from last week that have to do with
goals for the season.”
Pettit said LSU is the most talented
team the Huskers will see this week
end. But the Tigers, he said, may have
communication problems on the court.
“LSU has a lot of athletic talent
from a lot of different countries,” he
"Obviously we have to
win our matches along
the way, but ultimately
we are dealing with the
big picture, not
preparing for the next
opponent. ”
■
TERRY PETTIT
Nebraska volleyball coach
said. “Some of them are from Brazil.
Some of them are from Central
America, but they are athletically a
superior team. They sometimes take a
while to get going.”
Last weekend, LSU lost to No. 2
UCLA and No. 4 Penn State at the
Volleyball Monthly Invitational. The
Tigers, who won the National Invita
tion Volleyball Championship last
year, advanced to the NCAA Tourna
ment semifinals in 1990 and 1991.
Pettit said he did not know much
about Texas Tech or Maryland.
“Texas Tech has been one of the
best teams in the Southwest Confer
ence for the last few years,” Pettit
said. Maryland is coached by former
Nebraska player Janice Kruger.
See LSU on 14