Tigers spike Bulldogs
| Susan Bennett Staff Writer The Lady Tigers volleyball team rolled, dove and leapt their way to victory over the University of Georgia Bulldogs Sunday. The Tigers won 3-1 over the Bulldogs in a fierce battle to the finish at the Student Activities Center. "We have to make every SEC match count, so we have to get off on the right foot," Coach Liz Bitzer said. "This is a huge win for us. Georgia has dominated Auburn in the past," she said. This is only the second time the Tigers have triumphed over the Bulldogs. Auburn recorded its first win against Georgia last season during the SEC Tournament. It was Auburn that dominated in this match-up, though. Auburn was ahead in three of the four games with scores of 15-12, 15-11, 14-16 and 15-11. With this win, Auburn now boasts a 10-4 overall record and a 1-0 record in SEC play. Auburn displayed its best blocking of the season with 22 block assists. Senior outside hitter Rani Whitson delivered a season-high seven block assists and two block solos, while junior outside hitter Krista Singleton served up seven block assists. Whitson also led the team with 18 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Emily Suter and senior outside hitter Allyson Beecroft earned 15 and 14 kills for their team respectively. Whitson said of game three, "Yeah, we were down. But we play one point at a time, one game at a time and we just dug deeper. We need to make our playing more crisp." The Tigers met the Bulldogs head-on in a game filled with powerful kills and personal sacrifice. "The keys were supposed to be good serving and passing, but the real key was to block (freshman outside hitter) Rebecca Dady," Bitzer said. "It is just a matter of them executing." | "Our intensity let down at times. We need to keep that up," sophomore middle blocker Heather Franey said. The Tigers played game four with great intensity and control. They were determined to make this SEC home opener a winner. However, the Georgia Bulldogs were not about to simply roll over and allow Auburn to defeat them. The Bulldogs, 8-5 overall and 1-1 in SEC play, met the Tigers with a strong offensive team. Dady and junior outside hitter Lital Sisso were major forces for the Bulldogs. Dady led her team with 19 kills, followed closely by Sisso's 18. Fans had more than the fast paced game to keep their attention. Promotional events included a TCBY yogurt eating contest, free Zeigler hot-dogs and the Heilig-Meyers' Lap of Luxury. For the Lap of Luxury, three fans are chosen to watch the match from the end line while eating pizza and reclining on a comfortable couch. Last Saturday the team beat its first ranked opponent in five seasons. Georgia Tech, ranked 17, lost 3-1 to Auburn. It was Tech's first loss of the season and Auburn's first victory over the Yellowjackets since 1990. With the win, Auburn captured its second tournament title of the year. The victory has carried over. The Lady Tigers have set their sights on the NCAA tournament, and they have no plans on passing that up. This year's team would be the first Auburn volleyball team to receive an NCAA tournament bid. "It was a great win for our first SEC match. It brings us one step closer to the NCAA matchup," Franey said. The Auburn Tigers will face off against Louisiana State University Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Student Act. Auburn is providing a promotional "Pack the Act" event for the game. The first 300 fans will receive free T-shirts. For the latecomers, whitewater rafting trips will be given away. |
Lineman gets aggressive, battles cancer
| LORIE M. JOHNSON Assistant Sports Editor Football is heralded for teaching its players about how to play the game of life, and Auburn offensive lineman Derick Balkcom is about to discover why. The redshirt junior from Chipley, Fla., is suiting up to battle a much greater opponent than the most rugged of defensive lines. Diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph nodes, Balkcom has withdrawn from classes at Auburn and gone home to Florida to begin chemotherapy treatments to fight the disease. "I go to the doctor Thursday to begin aggressive chemotherapy," Balkcom said. "Aggressive chemo is a very, very strong chemotherapy, and my doctor is very positive and thinks that we will get it all," he said. The cancer was discovered last week after tests run on a tumor removed two weeks ago showed the malignancy. Further tests revealed that his spleen is enlarged and the cancer has spread from the lymph nodes in his right thigh to those under his right arm. "Waiting was the hardest part," Balkcom said. "I'm just ready to get going and fight this thing because I'm planning on being back winter quarter for winter conditioning," he said. "Derick has had to overcome a lot of adversity in his life and has earned the admiration of his teammates and this coaching staff," Head Coach Terry Bowden said. Balkcom's position coach, Rick Trickett, agreed. | "If I had to pick one of my guys to whip something like this, I would pick Derick Balkcom," he said. "Derick is a tough guy." Coming out of high school Balkcom was a two-time all-state selection and was redshirted by Auburn in 1994. After lettering in 1995, Balkcom entered this season battling for the split-guard position. Balkcom is the second Auburn athlete to be diagnosed with cancer this year. Wes Flanigan, a senior point guard on the basketball team, had surgery this summer to remove a sarcoma from his arm. "Everybody has obstacles in their life, and this is one of mine," Balkcom said. "This is something I need to face head on and take an aggressive approach to. I don't plan on missing a beat," he said. Returning to Chipley has been positive, Balkcom said, thanks to the outpouring of love and support by the community. "My parents have been really positive and supportive, and the local support has been great," he said. "My friends in Auburn have been very supportive, too." "I hope Auburn people will remember Derick in their prayers," Bowden said. |
Auburn ready to shock 'Cocks
| Plainsman Sports Staff This Saturday will mark the first encounter between Auburn and the University of South Carolina on the gridiron since 1933, the fifth match-up ever between the two. Auburn leads the series 2-1-1. The last meeting between the two resulted in a 16-14 South Carolina victory in Columbia. Auburn won the first two games in 1930 and 1931 and tied the third game 20-20 in 1932. This is the first meeting of the teams in Auburn. At stake in the game are the divisional hopes of both teams. Already having lost to Mississippi State University last weekend, South Carolina still has games against the University of Tennessee and the University of Florida. If the Gamecocks are to keep even the slimmest of Southeastern Conference East title hopes alive, they must come away from the Plains with a victory. For Auburn, a divisional crown is more of a possibility, although a loss early on to Louisiana State University means the Tigers cannot afford to lose to South Carolina. A victory would keep title hopes going, and even a loss to Florida later in the season wouldn't totally crush them. Auburn must shut down the South Carolina rushing attack, namely Duce Staley. Staley had his ups and downs against Mississippi State, but still managed to record a lot of yardage. Look for Staley to test defensive coordinator Bill Oliver's game plan.
| Auburn's defense should be up to the test as it is currently ranked No. 11 nationally in scoring defense, giving up a scant 11.8 points per game. Sophomore Anthony Wright leads the Gamecocks' passing attack, and although he recorded a lackluster performance last week, he is a dangerous on-the-field leader with fast, capable receivers, Corey Bridges and Zola Davis. Wright might have some serious problems against the Tigers passing defense as Auburn leads the nation with 12 interceptions, and Oliver has helped solidify a defensive backfield that at times last year looked vulnerable. Questions still surround junior running back Fred Beasley and junior quarterback Dameyune Craig. Both players were injured in the LSU game and might not be 100 percent recovered by game time. Also hurting for Auburn is Head Coach Terry Bowden who underwent minor surgery to his neck to alleviate a spinal problem he's had for the past year. Bowden will probably not be on the sidelines but will continue to call the Auburn offense from the coaches' box. Even without Auburn's most potent offensive weapons the Tigers should still be able to dominate a rebuilding South Carolina team. Look for Oliver's stingy defense to be the big difference in this game. Plainsman Prediction: Auburn-28, South Carolina-10
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