Muleskinner

Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Sports

As the fall sports season unfolds before us, reality has begun to set in. There was a lot of hype around this community in August, as all of the sports programs opened the season ranked.

But as the dust begins to settle, and the grind of the regular season takes shape, only one team, Jennies' volleyball, remains nationally ranked. As history shows, everything is finally back to normal in Warrensburg.

I must admit, like everyone else, I was caught up in the prospect of believing that this could be a special year, with multiple teams competing for titles.

Early losses to lesser foes by the football and soccer teams, as well as youth movements in the golf and cross country programs, leaves volleyball once again as the crown jewel of the fall season. One question remains: Is anyone surprised?

The volleyball team, ranked No. 11 in the latest polls, has been an example of athletic excellence at the University since the arrival of Coach Peggy Martin 31 seasons ago.

Libero Katie Tarka is well on her way to setting the Div. II record for career digs, and Jillian Ohrman, a transfer from Mississippi, has stepped in as a force at the net. She is near the top in the conference in points, kills and hitting percentage.

The team is younger than last year. This much is evident by the tough loss last week at the hands of powerhouse Truman State, but the Jennies have shown the ability to put teams away, an uncharacteristic element found in a young team.

Of the 72 games the Jennies have played this season, only 23 have resulted in defeat.

Only five of those losses have come at the hands of conference opponents, including the three-game sweep by Truman on the road. The Jennies, at this point, have been nothing short of dominating in the MIAA.

So, why doesn't this program get the attention it deserves? Like many campuses around the nation, fall sports programs are often overshadowed by the gladiators of the gridiron, but understandably so.

Football is a pastime, the most popular sport found at the collegiate level, steeped in years of tradition. Expected, but unfortunate.

The Mules find themselves in a must-win situation Saturday against Fort Hays State, the new conference doormat, after the old doormat, Truman State, handed the Mules a 24-21 loss last weekend in Kirksville.

Compare the stats. Since 1980, the Mules football team has won the conference title five times. That's impressive, that is until it's placed next to the volleyball team's 19 conference titles in the same span.

Continued...

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