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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 1999)
trie emotions Fired-up freshman helps Huskers with 3-1 record By Jake Bleed Staff writer Polite over-the-net handshakes. Neat, white outfits. Ahhh... tennis. Then from the far court, an exu berant, slightly accented cry of “Huskers baby!” turns the attention of the crowd to a fist-pumping fresh man. “Vamos!” she says. Katarina Balan just scored anoth er point. NU’s No. 2 singles player has only played in four collegiate matches (and won three) so perhaps her anti thetical on-court behavior is excus able. But if the cries of “Huskers baby” and “vamos” can be heard when Balan is winning, other more negative comments await the crowd when she is not. “I can’t take losing. I have to say stuff on the court,” Balan said. “When I express myself, I get really pumped “P And a pumped-up Balan does more than say stuff. Throwing rac quets over fences or simply smashing them into the ground was normal in high school. Her personal best is two smashed racquets in one day. But since her arrival at NU, Balan has cooled on-court antics. “I haven’t smashed any racquets here. I’m proud of that,” Balan said. Balan thanked Women’s Tennis Coach Scott Jacobson for die calmer behavior. “Our coach is strict,” Balan said. “He wants discipline.” Jacobson said steady emotions would yield consistent playing and that he thought Balan’s game would improve if her attitude improved. “Tennis is such a mental game,” Jacobson said. “Every point in a match is a new challenge. She could be more positive toward herself.' That’s something that will help her in the long run not just for tennis but for her self-esteem.” Balan blamed European influ ences for her behavior and said tem per tantrums and swearing were nor mal on European courts. Both her father and her brother play and her first lesson was at age 4. Balan said her brother had professional aspira tions as well but that his game needed work. “He has like no serve,” Balan said. But he does have Balan’s temper. “He’s crazy. It’s a European thing,” Balan said. by Jeff Kaz and Jael Weisman Sponsored In poet bp o—>-*- p. .I M ufA.,. sj ■ * — * vKirwi s HfrmM Cy imcotn A taedar look at live, oairiago, Ike Jewish faith and tke heart-breaking, roUar-coastar ride af adopting a ckJU. A naw solo show starring Jeff lax. A f miaaiJw mOTj ML 9Wvnra|| Fab. 19& 20,7:30p.m. Adults $11, Students $7 $2 diacoant for PlMhim season tiefcat holders. Ticket* avifUhW in advance or aft the does: Call 489-7529 TDD feSSi 489-7581 uncan-connoniTT-PLfiTHoust 2500 So. 56th St^^ox Office: 489-7529 Lincoln, E 68506FAL 489-1035 —-----M i m Portrait of the Controversy Foot F &YRON \ l 1 l i i i i i i - I ii i_ '• THEATRE$ .— I I n ■ NOMINEES WANTED I Students, faculty, administrators and staff are encouraged to nominate a graduate assistant who is a role mod* and mentors to the academic success of students from underrepresented groups for the Graduate Assistant Mentoring Award Att current lull-time graduate teaching and research assistants at the University of Nebraska are eligible for the award The recipient wifl be honored at the annual Graduate College Awards Ceremony in April. Nominations must include: •a nomination letter outlining the mentoring activities and successes of the nominee •a curriculum vitae ■letters of support from at least one faculty advisor or peer and at least one undergraduate student/mentee Please send completed appications by March 1,1999, to: Dean of Graduate Studies 301 Canfield Administration Building City Campus 0434 For more information, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 472-2875. M They really concentrate on the athletes here. Here everyone can tell the difference between a student and an athlete.” Katarina Balan NU tennis player She came to die United States in 1991 to play and study at the John Newcombe Tennis Academy in New Breufels, Texas. Balan played in indi vidual matches in Texas and Europe throughout high school and also spent a year in Barcelona, playing next to Sergio Brugera and being trained by his father, Luis. “I think European tennis is bet ter,” Balan said. The clay courts of Europe hold a love-hate relationship for Balan. Balls bounce slower on clay, allowing opposing players more time to reach them. Used to American hard-courts, Balan said she was frustrated by how easily opponents reached her shots. But playing on day had other advan tages. “It was good. You could get all dirty and know you worked hard,” Balan said. Unlike American tennis players, Balan said European players do not combine an education with tennis and simply become professional instead. Balan, an international business major, said becoming a professional was risky work and that she wanted an education to fall back upon. Balan came to NU after sending off fifty applications to top-ranked schools at the last minute. Just com piling the paper work to apply was tough for Balan, who spent high school in four schools in three coun tries. Balan said she was working until the last minute to get everything in on time. But for all the application hassle, Balan said she enjoyed playing for NU. Just playing as a representative of the university and with teammates is new for the freshman who up until this year had mostly played in indi vidual competitions. Balan said her first match of the year against Southwest Missouri was her toughest because she was so nervous at the thought of representing the school. She won but in three sets. Since that first match, Coach Jacobson said he had watched her improve match by match. “Every time she plays a match, she gets a lot better. I think she’s com mitted to playing at a very high level,” Jacobson said. Balan said the attention athletes received at NU was a definite perk for her. “They really concentrate on the athletes here,” Balan said. “Here everyone can tell the difference between a student and an athlete.” Balan said she preferred playing along the baseline and in singles matches. Unlike doubles matches, Balan has only herself to answer to for her mistakes. “I especially like it when they hit to my forehand” Balan said. Balan is currently 3-1 in both sin gles and doubles. Balan said she planned on giving professional tennis one year after she graduated, competing in money tour naments in Europe, to try to make a living at a sport she’s hardly lived without. “I don’t know if I can ever quit tennis,” Balan said. If playing professionally does not work out, Balan said she would con sider coaching or looking for work in international business. Her father owns a international trading company and a dairy company in Belgrade. “It depends. If I marry an American, maybe I’ll stay here,” Balan said. But Balan has the rest of college to think about the future and is only four matches into her freshman sea son. Her immediate goals are more direct. “Win as many matches as I can, work on my attitude and stay quiet on the court and behave.” dailyneb.com 402-472-2588 402-472-1761 (FAX) dn@unl.edu 34 Nebraska Union P.O.Box 880448 Lincoln, NE 68588-0448 $5.00/15 words $3.50/15 words (students> $0.15 each additional word $0.75 billing charge $0.75/line headline Deadline: 3 p.m. weekday prior *■' i ' m—mmi ... •< / ~ ' . '■ •■ -V-^'-* :£*■••• * . .. '•' ” . Zb ■■ ; • _, '.- . - ..; -' ■■»’.....■ ^|tyt . .. ... ■ “ ip 615 Meetings 620 Greek Affairs 630 Student Government Aiiti ftnnnnnli mu rarsovKiKS 645 Lost 6 Found XCA tl/nnfft ri oou wamea 660 Fundraising 670 900 Numbers - - WINTEft <S STILL HERE. Al snow board equipment on sale. 25% off accessories, 15% on decks. SevenSeenty Snowboards. 475-2S53. t.g n 5. xm ^ J I I_I Auto Accidents A DWI Other criminal matters, call Sanforri Pollack 476-7474. Free Pregnancy Test Birthright it a confidential helping hand. 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