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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 28, 2000)
SportsWeekend Banquet honors women’s sports ■ Event to feature . speech by former NU track star Merlene Ottey. From staff reports Nebraska will culminate its cele Mation of 25 years of women’s inter collegiate athletics with a banquet Sunday, expected to be attended by 14 of die 25 women NU labeled as ‘Women of Distinction.” A featured speaker will be former Comhusker track star Merlene Ottey, who won 14 national tides between 1980-1984 at Nebraska and was [lamed the Daily Nebraskan woman ithlete of the Century in March 1999. She was also part of three national championship teams during that dme. Ottey has completed in five Dlympic games for her home country ;>f Jamaica and has won seven medals, though never a gold. She expects to compete in her sixth Olympics in Sidney later this year if she wins an appeal after a 1 failed drug test. Recently, she was named to I Track and Field News’ All Century team. NU Athletic Director Bill Byrne and for y mer Husker imcj v o 11 e y d a 11 Coach Terry Pettit are expected to speak, while parts of the NETV documentary on women’s athletics at Nebraska will also be shown. Of the women of distinction expected to attend: Shelly Bartlett, Rhonda Blanford, Denise Day, Ann Swanson-Bartek, Sherri Hayward, Fran ten Bensel, Karen Dahlgren Schonewise, Maurtice Ivy, Stephanie Thater, Karen Jennings, Tressa Thompson and Ottey. NU tries to revenge loss to Texas A&M ■ Women’s tennis team looks to advance to the Big 12 semifinals. From staff reports The Nebraska women’s tennis earn cruised through the first round if the Big 12 Championships rhursday in Kansas City, Mo., and iow has set its sights on vengeance. The Comhuskers rolled to a 5-0 victory over Texas Tech. The match NEBRASKA 5 TEXAS TECH0 ivas called once NU had enough points for victory at the Plaza Tennis Center. Nebraska (19-5 overall, 7-5 in the Big 12) rolled the Red Raiders [3-18, 1-11) with five players win ding singles matches, all in straight sets. No. 1 player Sandra Noetzel defeated Ayako Suzuki 6-0, 6-3, Ndali Ijomah beat Michelle Colaninni 6-2, 6-0, Maria Fernandez beat Sonnia Orellana 7 6, 6-3, Katarina Balan beat Noel Ruiz 6-2, 6-1 and Gina Pelazini defeated Renee Pereira 6-0,6-2. W We have our hands full with them, but the girls think they can do it.” Scott Jacobson NU women’s tennis coach None of the doubles matches were played. Now, sixth-seeded Nebraska is paired against No. 40 Texas A&M, which beat the Huskers 5-4 earlier this season in a match at die Plaza. Husker Coach Scott Jacobson said he figures NU has a strong chance to move into the semifinals. “We have our hands full with them,” Jacobson said, “but the girls think they can do it. We lost a close one to them earlier in the sea son, and we hope to fare better against them tomorrow. Texas A&M is a great program, and we will have to play our best match of the season to get a victory tomor row.” Track and field prepares for two prestigious meets From staff reports This weekend, some of the athletes on the Nebraska track team will be taking part in the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, while the others will be in Philadelphia for the Penn Relays. The majority of the Nebraska track and field throwers, as well as several female sprinters, will trav el to Des Moines for the Drake Relays today and Saturday. Several of the Husker men will make the trip to Philadelphia L for the Penn Relays. The 2000 Drake Relays will be in its ninth decade; Its sponsors will be aiming for its 35th-straight Saturday sellout in the 18,000-seat Drake Stadium - the longest streak in U.S. track history. Meanwhile, the Penn Relays, in its 106th year, is also one of the nation’s most prestigious outdoor track meets. Both meets will play host to many of the top high school, col legiate and post-collegiate ath letes in the nation. DN File Photo JAMIE RODRIGUE and the Ro. 15 Musters lost ts doss out their Big 12 conference schedule this weekend against Iowa State. NU lost Its conference record 15-aame wlnnlno streak aoainst Wisconsin-Milwaukee this week. •BBraBBB Hw IW BB^PBBBBPB B BB I w ^MMHBBwP ^WBBBBBwBBBB WH WH BBWBBB"Wwli mWVBBVIBI BBBBBIW^^BBI^B^PBP BBBB^P ^WBPBPBB* NU looks to avoid ISU upset By Dane Stickney Staff writer After having its 15-game winning streak snapped Tuesday, the Nebraska baseball team is looking to start a new streak against Iowa State this week end The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee broke the Cornhuskers’ winning streak with a 9-7 win, but Nebraska short stop Will Bolt said the loss won’t be detrimental to the team. “We just want to start another streak,” he said In reality, the loss didn’t hurt the Huskers too badly because it was a non-conference game, but a loss or two this weekend could be a major setback, said NU Coach Dave Van Horn. “This is a big weekend for us,” he said “Every weekend is a big week end for us.” The Huskers (33-12) have the advantage of battling the Cyclones at Buck Beltzer Field in Lincoln. The Cyclones are currently 11th in the Big 12, with a 6-15 record in the conference and a 15-28 overall record. They’re led by outfielder Aaron Ruidc, who is hitting .355 on the sea son. Van Horn said Nehraska needs to be ready to play or it could get sur prised. “We’re going to have to play extremely well if we want to win the series,” he said. The first game of the series is scheduled for tonight at 6:30. Husker pitcher Shane Komine will take his 2.03 ERA to die mound against Iowa State. Komine has 114 strike outs in 79 and 2/3 innings this season. Chad Wiles will pitch in ’Saturday’s game, which will begin at 2 p.m. Wiles is 2-2 on the season with a 3.25 ERA. Jamie Rodrigue, fresh off his third shutout of the season, will pitch in Sunday’s 1 p.m. ball game. Rodrigue threw his third shutout of the season in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader against U Every weekend is a big weekend for us.’’ Dave Van Horn NU baseball coach UWM. He improved his record to 6-3 on the season, with a solid 3.23 ERA. The Husker pitching staff has compiled a Big 12-best 3.20 ERA. Nebraska’s offense has also been performing well, hitting .409 during the 15-game winning streak. Dan Johnson and Matt Hopper are tied for the league lead in home runs with 15. In other news, Nebraska’s series against Texas has been rescheduled. It was originally scheduled to be played May 5-7, but has been switched to May 6-8. The switch has been made to accommodate the Husker players, who havefinals on May 5.