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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1996)
Huskers to face 2 ranked teams By David Wilson Staff Reporter The Nebraska baseball team will battle two traditional national powers this weekend in the Fiesta Bowl Dia mond Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Comhuskers will take on 1 lth ranked Texas Tech today at 2 p.m, sixth-ranked Arizona State Friday and Northwestern on Saturday. The con solation and championship games will be played on Sunday. “We’ve probably bitten off more than we can chew. New Mexico State was serious competition,” said Ne braska coach John Sanders. “(Arizona State and Texas Tech) are outstanding ball clubs and certain NCAA qualifi ers.” The 6-0 Red Raiders, coached by Larry Hays, are off to their best start since 1993. Hays helped Texas Tech to its first-ever NCAA regional berth last season, compiling a 51-14 record. Left-handed pitcher Matt Miller, a junior, is expected to start today’s game for the Raiders. Miller has won both of his outings this season, hold ing opposing hitters to a .224 average while maintaining a 1.93 camed-run average. Offensively, the 2-1 Huskers are led by catcher Pete Jenkins, who is hit ting .472 this season. Jenkins, a jun ior, is expected to bat sixth behind se nior outfielders Mel Motley and Matt Meyer, who combined for 12 RBI in Nebraska’s season-opening series against New Mexico State on Feb. 2 3. Eugene Jenkins, the only other Husker senior expected to start, has led off the batting order in all three games this season. Jenkins, Nebraska’s starting center fielder, will open the tournament hitting .312 with six runs scored. The rest of the .young. Nebraska TmBufy wilTbe put to the test against a Texas Tech pitching staff that has lim ited opposing hitters to a .225 aver age this season. “Some of them may be a little afraid, and some may have some con cerns,” Sanders said. “But on the other side, I think any player here in a Ne braska .uniform wants to play quality competition.” P— “We’veprobably bitten off more than we can chew. ” JOHN SANDERS Nebraska baseball coach Junior Steve Fish will start today on the mound for the Huskers. Fish earned the win in Nebraska’s season opening 23-13 win over New Mexicc State, allowing only two hits in 4 2/3 innings. Texas Tech, a future Big 12 Con ference rival of Nebraska, locked its series with the Huskers at two games apiece the last time they met in 1991. Husker pitcher Jonas Armenta, a junior, will make his first start of the season Friday against 6-1 Arizona State at 7 pjn. The Sun Devils are averaging almost 12 runs per game and will enter the tournament with a .355 team batting average. Nebraska, which has played Arizona State five times, trails the series 3-2. The Sun Devils are led offensively by sophomore left fielder Dan McKinley, who has hit .429 with three home runs in Arizona State’s seven games this season. Northwestern, which will open its season against Arizona State on Thurs day, is scheduled to face Nebraska on Saturday at 2 pan. The Wildcats are led by infielder Jake Suffian, who hit .346 last season. Nebraska freshman Jay Siriani, who earned the Huskers’ second win of the season, will start on Saturday. Siriani held New Mexico State to three runs in five innings in a 15-6 Husker win on Feb. 3. Senior Jason Allen is expected to start Sunday’s game. Allen was pulled after 3 1/3 innings in the second game of a doubleheader against New Mexico StatelifteralTowing only one run and striking out two batters. Sunday’s consolation game will be played at 11 a.m. The championship game will be played at 2:30 p.m. “These are really tough games. It doesn’t get any tougher,” Sanders said. “There is no comfort zone. If you make any mistakes, you’re probably going to lose.” Are You Late? •Very competitive fees •Supportive environment •Abortion procedures to 16 weeks •Saturday appointments available •Student discounts •Visa, Mastercard F<i^ Women's Medical Center ofNebraska 4930 "L" Street Omaha, Nebraska 68117 (402) 734-7500 Toll free (800) 877-6337 Summer Reading Courses Read and Succeed in 1996 Do you: • Want to earn college credits toward graduation this summer? • Like to study at your own pace? • Have difficulty finding courses to fit your summer schedule? If so, UNL’s Summer Reading Course Program is for you! Ads in the Daili; Nebraskan on Feb. 26 and Feb. 29 will list courses and spring meeting dates. A complete Summer Reading Course brochure with course descriptions and registration form is available. Cft Call 472-1392 University of Nebraska Lincoln Division of Continuing Studies Evening Programs and Lifelong Learning Services UNL is a nondiscriminatory institution. Swimmer provides inspiration for NU By Vince D’Adamo Staff Reporter It’s not always easy being on top. The top is where Nebraska freestyle swimmer and team captain Melanie Dodd thrives. “She loves to compete,” Comhusker assistant coach Keith Moore said. “She has very high goals and strives in her daily prac tice regimen on achieving those goals.” Dodd, a senior from Sydney, Australia, has been an All-Ameri can twice at Nebraska. Dodd has won at least two events at every meet this semester and was named Big Eight swimmer of the month for January. She recorded eight individual freestyle wins and six first-place finishes as a relay team member last month. Dodd leads her Nebraska team mates into this week’s Big Eight Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla. Swimming preliminary events begin today at 11 a.m. Husker freshman T.D. Rowe placed second in the 1 -meter diving event Wednesday night with a score of 422.40. Freshman Nikki Markota finished sixth for Nebraska and se nior Juli Jones placed eighth. This weekend’s competition is the final Big Eight meet. Next sea son, the Big 12 will be considered one of the premier swimming con ferences in the nation. “That makes it important,” Dodd said. “It also makes it very special. I see it as a great opportunity.” Dodd is the all-time leader in Nebraska history with a time of 22.88 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle. She heads the all-time charts in the 100- and 200-meter events with times of49.60 seconds and one minute, 47.85 seconds, re spectively. Husker coach Cal Bentz said Dodd set a great example for her teammates to follow. “She’s been a great student, a great athlete and a great inspiration to our women’s team,” Bentz said. Dodd is a member of four Husker relay teams that are nation ally ranked and on top of the all time Nebraska charts. In addition to her individual relay teams, Dodd competes in the 400- and 200-meter medley relay and the 800- and 200 meter freestyle relays. “She’s at a great level in her swim ming, and that’s pulling the rest of the team to that level,” Moore said. Buffalo coach says NU will make tourney By Jason Brum Staff Reporter Heavy hearts were the only thing the Colorado women’s basketball team took home from Lincoln Wednesday night. Nebraska defeated the 18th-ranked Buffaloes (20-7 overall and 7-4 in the Big Eight) 83-75 in double-overtime at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Colorado coach Ceal Barry said she was not surprised Nebraska was able to end the Buffs seven-game winning streak against Nebraska. Before Wednesday night, Nebraska had not defeated the Buffs since a 62-50 win on Jan. 22, 1993. Barry, who has coached Colorado for four straight Big Eight titles, said she thought the Cornhuskers were well on their way to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years. “They’ve got some very good of fensive players,” Barry said. “I totally expected them to come out and be ag gressive.” Colorado, 30-3 a year ago, ad vanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season. The Buffaloes have made it to the Sweet 16 in three of the past four years. Nebraska, which was down 35-29 at the half, scored 35 points in the sec ond half to force overtime. Return Continued from Page 10 Byrne. What the players said was not disclosed, but the problems can be taken care of quickly, Nee said. The team’s meeting with Byrne, Nee said, dealt with putting an end to profanity and listening to the concerns of the players, who have decided not to speak to the media until Saturday’s game against Oklahoma. “I’m willing to listen,” Nee sajd. “I’m willing to change.” Nee did not agree with the way the situation was handled. He said he wished that his players would have come to him instead of going over his head to Byrne. “I think it was very poor judgment on their part, and I didn’t think it needed to get to that point,” Nee said. “I respect them, but I don’t agree with it. “If my ego’s bruised or my feel ings are hurt, I’m supposed to be the guy to handle it. Did I like what hap pened or how it was handled? Abso lutely not.” Despite his displeasure with the players’ actions, Nee said, no disci plinary action will be taken against any of the players who were late to practice Tuesday. “They want to play basketball,” Nee said. “If they don’t want to play basketball, they can get the hell out.” No one asked to transfer, Nee said, and the rumors that he may resign were false—although Nee did say he would re-evaluate his position at Ne braska following the season. He said he asked Byrne about the possibility of resigning or being fired. Byrne told Nee his job was safe, the coach said. “I’ve gotten stronger on this, and it’s strengthened my position,” Nee said. “I feel very comfortable, but it was two days wasted.” Win Continued from Page 10 ranked No. 2 at 158 pounds, defeated Todd Sacksteder 7-2. Chad Nelson kept the momentum alive at 167. Erik Josephson added points at 177 for Nebraska and 190 pound freshman Kalin Makaiwi took all hope away from the Tigers, pin ning Thomas Patterson. No.2 heavyweight Tolly Thompson added the final team points for Ne braska. ANOjLCHANGE SPARE CHANGE Visit our convenient Midas shop locations for service in Mufflers • Brakes • Shocks/Struts • Oil Changes NOW FEATURING LINCOLN People Who Know Use Valvoune® 7030 “0” St. 483-2282 O«CTri.M0 FEE INCLUDED Midas supports technician certification through the National Institute tor Automotive Service Excellence The <8> Way. The Way It Should Be. Lube, Oil & Filter Save An Additional With the Valvotine mail-in rebate coupon available at Midas Muffler and Brake Shops. Rebate valid through 3/10/96. I I I K&atoe People Who Know Use Valvoune® up io o quarts i uw ju valvoune on. • coupon must be presented at time Not valid with other sales promotions °f purchase. or discounts., • Offer good only at Midas shops fisted. Expiration date March 10,1996 j