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Home , Losing streak, Point After, Tony Dungy, Warren Sapp, Winning streak

September 25,1997 Page 6 The Banner

Volleyball team W 3h o t s has three- The Year of team 1 ter pu State TheB the Bucs? game The Blocksport Bulldog Challenge Sept. tournament on Sept. 19- By Robert Payne By Kyle S. Phipps 20, took place at the Justice Center staff W riter Sports Editor as the UNCA Bulldogs saw action against teams from Providence It has been a bizarre beginning to The UNCA volleyball team cap­ College, Samford University, and this sea­ tured a hard-fought victory with Belmont University. son. Five weeks into the season, their win over UNC-Charlotte on The UNCA volleyball team there are no front-runners in the Sept. 23 in five , 9-15, 15-4, dropped their first match of the race for the Tro- 15-6, 16-18, 15-10. The win over tournament to Providence College, phy. Here’s how the NFL season is the 49ers improved the Bulldogs’ but managed to take wins over shaping up so far. record to 8-8 for the season and 2- Samford University and Belmont : The Packcame 0 at home. The loss was the eighth University to finish second in the out of the gates strong and then fell straight for the 49ers. Blocksport Bulldog Challenge. Torbett said the Bulldogs captured to the in the In the first game, the Bulldogs O n Sept. 19, the Bulldogs opened a well-deserved win after a long third weekofthe season. , were down early, 8-3. They came the Blocksport Bulldog Challenge losing skid, 15-10, 16-14, 15-6. while looking strong, hasn’t been back and played close, but at 8-7 with a loss to Providence College in “We were very determined not to playing like a two-time NFL Most the ‘Dogs began to fall behind due a three-game match. The Bulldogs lose our sixth game in a row,” said Valuable Player. Green Bay’s de­ to unforced errors, and eventually dropped the match, 15-12, 15-10, Torbett. “We played a really clean fense looks weaker than in past lost the first game, 15-9. 15-7. match and it was the first time that years, and has been Game two saw the Bulldogs re­ “I don’t know what it is,” said we had all of our hitters hitting bottled up by opposing offensive spond by blowing out the 49ers. Torbett. “We win the games we’re positive.” lines. The ‘Dogs established an early 5-1 supposed to, but we’re not able to The Bulldogs were paced by Gei­ Dallas Cowboys: The ‘Boys started advantage. Leading at 11 -3, the pull out the upsets, like with Provi­ ger with 16 kills and four digs. the season playing like a team that Bulldogs kept the pressure on dence. I was a little disappointed Ambrose led the team with four was hungry for another NFL crown UNCC on their way to a second with the loss to Providence, but we service aces and had four digs. by decimating the Steelers. Since game victory of 15-4. bounced back to beat both Samford “I think our girls did a really good then, they’ve fallen to the Arizona In the third game the Bulldogs and Belmont.” job by not making those stupid Cardinals, and needed a miracle kept up their dominance as they Leading the Bulldogs in the match errors like hitting the ball into the botched field goal attempt to beat rallied to score six straight points against Providence was Geigerwith net,” said Torbett. “We had our the Eagles. Dallas’ high-powered and lead the game, 11 -2. The ‘Dogs 11 kills. Smith led the team with 21 highest hitting percentage yet.” offense still isn’t putting big num­ eventually won the game, 15-6. assists and had four digs along with The Bulldogs faced Belmont bers on the board, and the offensive Game four was a marathon game sophomore Jennifer Baker. University in their second game line isn’t opening gaping holes for for the Bulldogs and 49ers as they Following the loss to Providence, on Sept. 20. or giving Troy tangled for over an hour. The 49ers the Bulldogs’ stood at They went three games with Aikman enough time to deliver the took an early 6-1 edge, but the five matches, and they could only Belmont and easily took the win, ball to and Anthony Bulldogs scored seven straight hope for Providence to suffer a loss 15-2, 15-4, 15-9. Miller. The Cowboy offense is go­ points to pull even at 8-8. to have a chance for the Blocksport “Belmont really laid down against ing to have to open things up for UNCA once again overcame an­ Bulldog Challenge title. us and I was able to notice how Dallas to have another shot at the other deficit to stun the 49ers at­ “I don’t know if we have ever lost conditioned we were,” said . tempt at game point. It was now that many in a row since we have Torbett. Carolina Panthers: There are seri­ 15-15, but the 49ers finally took had a winning season,” said Torbett. They just didn’t seem to fight ous problems with the Panthers the game 18-16. The Bulldogs had their second against us. They weren’t as condi­ this year. The Carolina defense is In a decisive game five, determined match of the tournament on Sept. tioned as us,” Torbett said. being played like sucker chumps by by rally points, the Bulldogs traded 20, against Samford University. In the final match, the Bulldogs UNO opposing offensive coordinators. point with the 49ers The Bulldogs started the first game were once again led by Geiger with front While Dom Capers continues to until taking the lead, 11-7. UNCA with 10 straight points as freshman 10 kills and five digs. 16. Tl his zone blitz packages, offen­ prevailed and captured the game, KhristineAmbrose held serve. The The all-tournament team selec­ sive coordinators across the league 15-10, to secure the win over Bulldogs eventually took that game, tions included two UNCA play­ PHOTOS BY MAURIE HILL have figured out that a properly- UNCC. 15-10. ers, Geiger and Baker. (Top) UNCA team members huddle between points in a run screen pass or misdirection play In the victory over the 49ers, the The next game was tight down to On Sept. 16, the Bulldogs faced game versus Belmont University. This match was during is going to work every time. Caro­ Bulldogs were led by Cally Geiger’s the wire until the Bulldogs came the Mountaineers from Appala­ the Blocksport Bulldog Challenge. lina QB is back from 24 kills. Lorelee Smith paced the out victorious, 16-14. Then, in the chian State on the ASU campus. (Bottom) Junior Cally Geiger unleashes a spike on a the injured reserve list, but he hasn’t team with a team and personal sea­ final game of the match, the Bull­ The final score was 15-9, 15-17, Belmont University defender. been playing like a “ of son high 71 assists. dogs easily defeated Samford, 15-6. 15-7,9-15, 16-14. the future.” He’s been playing like a junior varsity quarterback thrown into the NFL fire. It’s going to be a long season for Panthers’ fans un­ less Capers can arrange to play the Men's soccer rocked by Big South newcomer Falcons for the next 12 weeks. : Go ahead and give the NFL By Kimara Parker Fitzsimmons. “They played very well.” take which led to them going 2-1. Then we forward Alle Rognerud connected on a Coach ofthe Year award. He’staken Staff Writer “We played pretty well in the first half,” said lost our concentration once again and they in the 69th minute. In the 73rd minute the NFC doormat and turned them UN CA defender Todd Williams. “We pretty punished us for it.” Alabama’s defender Carl Schmitt scored yei into a real honest-to-God football much controlled the game.” “It’s like we had two separate teams on the another goal. team. NFL laughingstock Trent After ending their three game losing streak “We (South Alabama) made some adjust­ field,” said Hartmann. “The game was kind “We were caught ball watching. They capi Dilfer is playing like an All-Pro, with a win over The Citadel, the UNCA ments at halftime to become more organized, of a wakeup call for us, letting us know we talized on a couple of our mistakes and W and rookie running back Warrick men’s soccer team returned to their losing which allowed us to go forward with more need to really start playing. We are really a couldn’t get back into the game from there, Dunn is picking up where he left ways with a 4-2 defeat at the hands of South ease,” said Fitzsimmons. young team.” said Williams. off at Florida State. The Bucs need Alabama, a newcomer to the Big South Con­ The goal scoring commenced in the 48th Between the 63rd and the 73rd minute, In the 80th minute, Hartmann scored anl to return to the line­ ference. minute as South Alabama benefited from a there was a 10-minute defensive breakdown other goal for the Bulldogs, leaving the scori up, or there may be trouble down UNCA Head Coach Steve Cornish said his UNCA own goal. South Alabama midfielder for UNCA. at 4-2. the road. team is playing well, then falling apart when Mike McCanlou’s shot deflected off a UN CA “We had a couple of breakdowns during the The two goals that Hartmann scored weri Denver Broncos: The Broncos may it comes to crunch time. defender to give South Alabama an early game,” said Hartmann. “The defense and the his first two career goals. make a return to the Super Bowl if “We are learning that the game is all about second-half lead. offense were not playing together.” “South Alabama is a good team,” said Coi QB and back Terrell playing 90 minutes, and we are playing for “In the second half of the game, we gave up During the breakdown. South Alabama nish. “I was encouraged by the way we play« Davis stay healthy. Elway may be about 70,” said Cornish. an own goal,” said Williams. “That kind of connected on three goals. Forward Nick for about an hour, but we have to make suri getting old, but he can still deliver “We are quite competitive up until that set the tone for the second half of the game.” Walsh made a goal in the 63rd minute, and we can concentrate for 90 minutes.” the long ball, and he still tattoos point, but we have not been able to put teams Cornish explained the own goal. receivers with the “Elway Cross” on away,” said Cornish. “There was a lack of pressure on the ball short passes. South Alabama’s aggressive style of play initially, and then when the ball got crossed Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags have earned them 21 shots on goal,four of which over, one of our players miss it and miss taken a situation that would sink found the back of the Bulldogs’ net. The hit a clearance. (UNCA midfielder) Brad most NFL clubs and have turned it Bulldogs took a lowly five shots in the first Northington was placed in a situation where into an undefeated season. With half, and an equally dismal number in the he had to head clear, so he decided to head for starting quarterback Mark Brunell second half a corner,” said Cornish. on the sidelines at the beginning of As the game progressed, it became more “He (Northington) did not quite get his the season, Jacksonville went to physical. South Alabama were whistled for head perfectly on it, so he did not deflect it far backups and continued in a busi­ 16 fouls, and the Bulldogs received 11. Three enough. He just knocked it into the goal,” nesslike fashion. Jacksonville may South Alabama players and their coach all said Cornish. As our goalkeeper came out, very well be the team to end the received yellow cards, and one player from he was stranded.” AFC drought in the Super Bowl. UNCA received a yellow card. Own goals happen once a season, twice a : New En­ The first half of the game proved to be a season, maybe,” said Cornish. “It just so gland is looking to make a return to defensive struggle. Few shots were taken by happened that was the way they opened up.” the Super Bowl, even without Bill either team. At the halfway point in the In the 55th minute, Hartmann evened the Parcells at the helm of the'team. game, the Bulldogs had their five shots on score by chipping the ball past South Quarterback Drew Bledsoe is hav­ goal, and South Alabama had attempted Alabama’s goalkeeper Arve Warholm. PHOTO BY ROB HAMMONDS ing another excellent season and only four of their own. Then we equalized, and once again it was UNCA senior midfielder Jenkins Powell threads a pass between Citadel tailback is running JUNCA came strong in the first half,” said a great game. We dominated in the first half,” defenders Andy Crotts (6) and Charlie Mottram (16). The Bulldogs won the the ball as well as he ever has. South Alabama’s Head Coach Stuart said Cornish. “Then we made another mis­ game against The Citadel, but then fell to South Alabama on Sept. 19.