P « c 6 rr., r. August 28, i m ------—------The Banner ------Augt, Sports

'^HOTS UNCA hires new basketball coach

increase as a great opportunity for ing scorer with 1,296 points and By Chris Garner the Lady Bulldog basketball pro­ the all-time leader in assists (503) staff Writer gram. and steals (408). As a senior, she Dallas “I definitely plan on bringing in was named East Coast Athletic Con­ After much emotional stress within the best talent that we can get. Our ference Player of the Year, confer­ last year’s women’s basketball pro­ first priority is that we would like to ence tournament MVP, and led ail gram, UNCA Athletic Director stay local. Bringing in local talent NCAA Division II players in free will win it Tom Hunnicutt announced the helps bring more fans to the game throw percentage. hiring ofDePaul University Assis­ than it would by bringing in kids As far as the outlook on the 1997- tant Coach Kathleen Weber on June from out of state. But if we have to 98 basketball season, Weber is noth­ all^ again 25. go out of state to get the best talent, ing but optimistic. Weber was an assistant coach at then we will,” Weber said. “The team has been working hard DePaul, and was selected by the Weber was an assistant coach at on their own,” said Weber. “They Kyle S. Phipps Athletic Department after former DePaul for five seasons. While there, have been getting themselves in Sports Editor^ Ray Ingram was re­ the Blue Demon program won 106 shape, and they’re really enthusias­ leased from his contract on April games , two conference champion­ tic about it,”. The trophy has 30. ships, and made three appearances “We have a lot of veteran players spent the last nine months in Green “I love the school, and I love the in the NCAA tournament. She coming back. Everybody is very Bay, but don’t expect it to stay area,” said Weber. “The schools assisted in on-court coaching, pre- optimistic about the relationships around much longer. Once again, that I’ve worked with in the past season and post-season workouts, of the people involved, which I the Cowboys will be the best team have been private schools, and scouting, marketing, and recruit­ think is essential in having a suc­ in the world. within the private setting, there is ing. cessful season,” Weber said. Most experts around the country more of a common goal, not only in Before her time at DePaul, Weber The Lady Bulldogs are coming off are expecting Green Bay to repeat. the athletics, but within the school. spent one season at Notre Dame a 14-13 record from last season, Some people are even expecting the When I interviewed at UNCA, I where she assisted the Fighting Irish and Weber feels that the upcoming Pack to have the first undefeated got the same kind of feel from a to a 23-9 record as well as a berth in season brings room for improve­ season since the 1972 Miami Dol­ public setting. The people were very the Women's National Invitational ment. phins. Sorry kiddies, but Dallas is close and very friendly.” Tournament. “We would like to be at the top of going to return to the top of the Upon her arrival at UNCA, We­ “Kathleen has been an integral the Big South Conference,” said . ber was greeted with a substantial part of the success enjoyed by the Weber. “There are 33 conferences The Cowboys are stacked on the increase in the recruiting and schol­ DePaul women’s basketball pro­ in Division I basketball, and every offensive side of the ball, and the arship budgets within the women’s gram,” said Doug Bruno, DePaul one of them has a bid to the NCAA defense and special teams are going basketball program. University Women’s Head Basket­ tournament. Obviously we would to be good enough to get them by. The recruiting budget increased ball Coach. like to be at the top. We would like The Dallas team is focused and from $6,400 in the 1996-97 season “Kathleen is totally ready to be­ to win the Big South Conference.” they should realize that they missed to $8,000 this season. The scholar­ come a head coach. Five years from Weber has had a hectic summer PHOTO BY ROB HAMMONDS out on another world champion­ ship budget rose from $116,000 to now, Kathleen will be one of the after her appointment as head coach, UNCA Women’s Head Basketball Coach Kathleen Weber. ship last year. W ithout scandal or $143,400 since last year. bigger names in women’s coach­ but has still managed to squeeze in Weber comes to UNCA from DePaul University. While at “Her recruiting budget has been ing,” said Bruno. time for the Lady Bulldogs in an injury, there’s no stopping ‘the Boys’ DePaul, the Lady Blue Demons won two conference cham­ increased and we have also pro­ Weber, a Chicago native, attended effort to start and maintain a per­ this time around. pionships. , the Cowboys’ su­ vided Coach Weber with a car, and Marillac High School in Glenview, sonal relationship with the team. perstar running back, is back to his we’re getting another car for one of Illinois. As a senior she was an All- “It’s just been a crazy summer,” and we’re allowed to start working of the NCAA Women’s Basketball old form following off-season sur­ her staff members,” said Hunnicutt. American and Catholic League se­ said Weber. “I’ve been recruiting out with them,” Weber said. Tournament Committee. gery. Smith was never able to get on “Overall, we’ve done quite a lot. lection. by myself, and there just hasn’t According to former colleagues, “I am very excited that she is going track last year, and he still ran for We want to bring (the budget) up She was also a three-time All-Di­ been a lot of time to look at game Weber will eventually prove to be a to have this opportunity to prove over 1,200 yards. Coupled with all- to somewhere in the range of our vision selection and two-time All- film, but the girls have been work­ tremendous asset to the UNCA her capabilities as a head coach. 1 pro fullback Darryl “Moose” men’s recruiting budget,” Conference player. ing real hard.” Athletic Department. think she will be an excellent addi­ Johnston and the biggest offfensive Hunnicutt said. After graduation, Weber attended “ We just had a dinner last night at “Kathleen Weber is one of the tion to the staff at UNC-Asheville. line in football, the Cowboys run­ “W e’re trying to make all of our C.W. Post/Long Island University my apartment with the team and bright young coaches in women’s It will be a matter of time before ning game will be saf«*and secure. programs comparable,” said in Brookville, New York, where she the staff. But with them coming basketball,” said Jeni Lenti Kathleen has that program chal­ is still at the top of Hunnicutt. played from 1984 to 1988. She is back to school, we’re allowed to Ponsetto, DePaul University senior lenging for the Big South Confer­ his game. Last year, Aikman had "Weber seems to look at the budget the university’s third all-time lead­ have individual skill workouts now associate athletic director and chair ence title,” Ponsetto said. the worst year of his career since his rookie year , but he had been stripped ofhis favorite targets in Jay Novecekand for most of last season. Aikman is a smart Volleyball team looks to senior leaders and savvy who won’t throw many . Irvin will be around all season, barring injury, and he is still one of By Robert Payne “W ith losing Kim Osborne last are harder and tougher to pass as the top five receivers in the league. staff Writer year, that is a big loss for us,” said well. The coaching staff here is very To add depth to ‘the Boys’ receiv­ Coach Torbett. “I’m hoping Cally helpful and knowledgeable about ing corps, picked up Geiger will step in and fill that role the game. We all push each other to former Bronco Anthony Miller in The 1997 Lady Bulldog volleyball offensively.” improve and we have set many goals the off-season. Miller will provide team is coming off a strong pre­ Geiger, a returning starter, has the which we are striving to reach as the deep threat that Dallas has been season and looking to improve on potential to be a key player at the one,” said Ambrose. without since Alvin Harper left af­ last year’s 21-16 record. W ith six midhitter position. Geiger, at 6’2”, This season, the Lady Bulldogs; ter the ‘93 season. new players joining the team, the can be a very strong presence at the have a new addition to their coach­ Who are the other contenders Lady Bulldogs will have some ad­ net for UNCA. ing staff CourtneyTucker, astarter going to be? Green Bay will almost justments to make for the upcom­ Lorelee Smith, a returning senior, from last year’s team, will join Keith surely have another outstanding ing season. has been named First Team All- Murrless as an assistant coach for season, but will not be able to beat “It’s the most positive group of Conference for the past two years. the Lady Bulldogs. Dallas in the N FC Championship girls that I’ve worked with since She also led the. conference in as­ She will have to adapt to the new game. Quarterback Bret Favre will I’ve been coaching,” said Julie sists those two years. position off the court, but she brings lead his team once again, but with­ Torbett, Head Coach of the Lady “We have .the best setter in the knowledge and experience to the out in the backfield, Bulldogs. They’re very positive, very conference and in the southeast. team. the Pack will be a one-dimensional hard working, and they really want She’s just phenomenal. The setter “I miss playing a lot and standing team. I don’t expect Dorsey Levens to be successful. It’s been a really is the quarterback of the team, ev­ on the sidelines is very hard, but 1' to be able to carry a Bennett-size good preseason.” erything revolves around her. She love to coach,” said Tucker. “I love load. The Lady Bulldogs are coming off touches the ball on every single being on the other side and helping' It’s unclear if Robert a third place finish in the final stand­ play,” said Coach Torbett. the new people that are here and do j Brooks is going to be able to return ings of the Big South Conference. Other players expected to make whatever I can for those that have; from his mid-season injury last year Coastal Carolina took top honors, key contributions to the team this been here.” at 100 percent, and Antonio Free­ with University of Maryland-Balti- year are sophomores Jennifer Baker, The Lady Bulldogs begin theit( man has a bad habit of dropping more County finishing second. Last Kelly Danielson, Beth Brown, and regular season this Friday as theyfj the ball once he makes a reception. year the Big South Conference was Chandra Hicks. take on the Catamounts from West­ Hopes are high for the Carolina ranked 19th out of 30 Division I The Lady B ulldogs have their work ern Carolina at the Wake Forest Panthers, but I don’t expect them volleyball conferences. cut out in order to fill the missing Invitational Tournament in Win-i to even make the playoffs this year. “It’s a strong conference and we holes left by last year’s seniors. Six ston-Salem. The Panthers released last season’s have several teams that are always new freshmen join the Lady Bull­ The Lady Bulldogs will also facej; NFL sack leader, Kevin Greene, real good. UMBC is always strong dogs this season to help fill in those Appalachian State and Wake For­ -i and the defense looks to be in real and Coastal Carolina should be holes. est at the weekend tournament on i trouble. They’re old, and won’t be equally as strong as they were last “The freshmen have all been do­ Saturday afternoon. able to stay healthy all season the year,” said Coach Torbett. ing very well. I would be delighted The first home game for the Lady way they did last year. Kerry Collins “I hope we have a really good if one of them worked into a start­ Bulldogs will be on September 9 and Tshimanga Biakabutka aren’t learning season. I hate to call it a ing position,” said Coach Torbett. against High Point. , ready yet to carry the load for an rebuilding year, because every year “At this point we are going to rely The Lady Bulldogs will be hosting entire NFL season is a rebuilding year. It’s definitely a on our juniors, seniors, and sopho­ the Blocksport Bulldog Challenge As for the AFC. Well, it’s the younger, inexperienced team,” said mores to carry us and the freshmen on Sept. 19 and 20. UNCA will AFC and they haven’t won a Super Coach Torbett. to fill in depth players before they face Providence, Samford, and Bowl since the Reagan administra­ Three seniors, Jenni Reynolds, are asked to be impact players.” Belmont in the tournament. PHOTO BY ROB HAMMONDS tion, and that’s not going to change Sabrina Harrison, and Lorelee “This is a whole new level because The Big South Conference Cham­ this year. Denver will probably be The women’s volleyball team is expecting big things and Smith, return this year as starters to the game is a lot quicker and reac­ pionships will also be held this year the sacrificial lamb for the NFC, big hits out of middle hitter Jenni Reynolds. The Lady help lead the Lady Bulldogs. UNCA tion time is a lot less,” said Khristine at UNCA’s Justice Center on No-| but Pittsburgh or New England will be relying on their experience Bulldogs will be in Winston-Salem for a tournament this Ambrose, an incoming freshmen to vember 13-15. This will be the first could be there. Not that it really and leadership to have a successful the team. time that UNCA has hosted the matters. weekend. season this year. “The girls hit harder and the serves tournament in five years.