1990_11 The Daily Collegian November 1990

              Page 10
FSU football
hopes to hit
the jackpot
By Chris B ran am
COLLEGIAN SPORTS EDITOR
Although the football rivalry between Fresno
State and Nevada. Las Vegas doesn't approach the
proportions of it's basketball counterpart, the game
Saturday in Las Vegas will feature two hungry teams
nonetheless.
The Bulldogs (6-1-1. 3-0-1 in the Big West) will try
to stay undefeated in conference play, while the
Rebels.4-5, 3-2. under first-year head coach Jim
Strong attempt to prove their early season success
was no fluke.
FSU. with a bye last week, was sure the extra week
off would heal an ailing team beset by injuries. But
the 'Dogs are battling injuries once again, as
tailback James Allison pulled a hamstring in
practice and will be unable to play tomorrow.
Starting fullback Lorenzo Nc a I Is also listed as very
doubtful because of an ankle injury he suffered Oct.
20 against Long Beach State.
The Bulldogs will also be without the services of
safety Marquez Pope for the fifth consecutive week
due to a shoulder injury.
"Marquez will make the trip, but he won't play,"
FSU head coach Jim Sweeney said earlier this week,
"he'll play if we need him."
This game will mark the return of senior tailback
Aaron Craver. who sat out FSU's 28-16 victory over
LBS due to missed classes. Graver's presence will
take some of .the heat off senior flanker Carl
Hughes, who will get a lot of playing time against
UNLV.
"1 have no problem giving [Hughes] the ball thirty
timesagame." Sweeney said.
The Rebels' weakness on defense Is It's run
defense; giving up an average of 178.2 yards a game.
Sweeney will try to exploit that weakness.
"UNLV is very susceptible to the run." he said.
FSU's running game will have to be in high gear if
the wind is blowing at Sam Boyd Sliver Bowl, as it
often does. Bulldog quarterback Mark Barsottl had
trouble with the wind at Northern. Illinois, like
most quarterbacks would.
"Nothing affects quarterbacks like the wind."
Sweeney said. Tf it's windy [at Stiver Stadium] it
will be difficult to throw accurate timing passes."
Barsottl recovered from the debacle at Northern
Illinois to have a good passing game against the
"Ten*.    Barsottl passed for .240 yards and two
uchdowns in that game, and most lmportanUy, no
/The Rebels have lost two consecutive Big-West,
james after winning their first three conference
games.       Strong   was ' Notre .Dame's   offensive .
coordinator last season where he was well-known
for the option offense. ,     .
"We will see s'lot of wishbone this week." Sweenfr
said.   Sweeney will try to IbioAtrMJkj:
r>srekStottfebeituVtJoathr<rS|fcOW^
'No wUhbooe team will thro* well enough- to beat
you." he arid-   ,. '■   ■•-'    "*--
SeeFOOTBALLypooell
Tip-off
Johnny "fcrferd/ Iho Daly Coflogtan
Leaping for the bo II are Fresno State basketball players Tod Bernard (33) and Rev Young
(54). Under new head coach Gary Colson the basket ball team's practices are at a much
quicker pace than in previous years. <  ••
Yards
r
Fresno State's defensive efforts have been the key to the succ^ of the team in 1990
1990 a roller coaster ride for the VB team
By John Welsh
COLLEGIAN SPORTS WRITER
It's a shame that Lellanl Over-street
chose this season to be her last'as
head coach of the Fresno State
women's volleyball team.
Although the Bulldogs are heading
into tonight's home match against Big
West Conference Cal State Fullerton
Analysis
with a 10-15 record, have played
sporadically throughout the season,
Overstreet (20th year. 243-265-12] 1a
mnrhlng a young squad that will be
an excellent starting base for her
successorin 1991.
The 1990 season is far from over,
though. The Bulldogs still have an
outside shot at a winning record and
possibly an NCAA postseason berth.
If the Bulldogs, currently 5-8 in Big
West action, don't finish with a .500 or
better record in conference play, their
chances of partlc fasting In the NCAA
tournament to zip city.
Regardless, there to one thing that
seems completely sane to say: the
1990 Bulldogs will not roll over and
play dead like they did in 1989. losing
12 of 14 matches to end the campaign.
Fresno State needs to produce a
handful of upsets If It hopes for a
winning record. something the
women's volleyball program has not
seen since its 28-13 slate in 1984.
After that season. Fresno State has
gone 10-13 in 1985. 9-26 in.'86 (the
program's worst-ever record). 11-22 in
'87. 15-16 In '88 and 11-19 last year.
That's why. after several downer
seasons, it's too bad that Overstreet
has picked this year to call It quits.
This season's team to looking like a
group that can easily finish with a
winning record next year and
probably earn ' the school's first
postseason trip since 1984.
But. quite honorably, she has her
reasons.
*I have real mixed emotions (about
retiring)." Overstreet said. "However. I
wanted to leave an Incoming coach
some talent It's frustrating to know
all that talent is there, though. There
really to a solid nucleus of ptayers."
Sophomore outside hitter Andrea
Radmllovich to one of the solid
players Overstreet to talking about
"Andi to the catalyst on the team.
She probably handles 50 percent of
the load on the team," Overstreet said.
Radmllovich has consistently
produced on the floor. She leads the
team in kills (3731. digs (331) and
service aces (48). More importantly,
Radmllovich. like most has a
personality that Jells. •
That's Important for a team that
struggled last year In a the personality
department The 1990 'Dogs have a
"dig or die" 'motto that has been
consistent, and has been well worked.
Most recently, against 15th-ranked
Long Beach State Oct 27, the Bulldogs
S— ANALYSIS, page 11