Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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NCAA chances still a T ennis t By RICK MOHN Gamecock Staff Writer Sportscasters and writers often refer to a contest as"going down to the wire." That saying is seldom literally true, but it was on Monday afternoon in Knoxville, where the USC tennis team faccri the 13thranked Volunteers of Tennessee. The Gamecocks won four of six singles events, then dropped two doubles matches in split sets. In "We knew we had to win, and the players just went out and gave a real team effort." USC coach Ron Smarr the final match of the day, Chris Mayotte and Arthur Anastopoulo faced the Vols' number one doubles team. The third set ended at 6-6, forcing a tie-breaker. On the ninth tiebreaker point, which would decide both the doubles match and the team contest, Mayotte served an ace to take the match at 3-6,6-3, 7-6. After literally going to the last possible point, Carolina had captured a pulsating 5-4 triumph. "WE KNEW WE had to win, and Gamecot When the Frank McGuire controversy was at its zenith, many people wondered about its ramifications to Carolina's fine basketball program. McGuire said ootential recruits werp ur? derstandably nervous about signing a letter of intent to play for him when his future was still up in the air. Yet, there has been another serious consequence to the USC basketball program. Assistant head coach Ben Jobe will leave Carolina after this year to be the sportaik by Matt Ward head basketball coach at the University of Denver. Jobe has been appointed assistant coach when former assistant Donnie Walsh left Carolina this past year to become assistant head coach with the Denver Nuggets in the National Basketball Association. THOUGH MCGUIKE'S future is still unclear, Jobe's future here at Carolina was chiefly determined by the manner in which the McGuire matter was handled. Jobe dive earn upe the players just went out and gave a real team effort," said USC Coach Ron Smarr. "Each ulaver did a good job: the four points we lost were all in three sets, so we were in every match. We deserved to win." The most dramatic singles victory of the day for Carolina was Anastopoulo's at number five. He was down 0-3 against service in the third set before coming back to win the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. "I was really scared at 0-3, but I liicf i ? juui uwiucu w tuutciiiruic on breaking his serve, and I ended up winning the set and the match," said the sophomore from Charleston. "We were all psyched up because we knew we were out (of consideration for an NCAA Tournament bid) if we lost; now our chances look pretty good." Also providing singles wins were Jeff Hull, Barry Gilbert and Peter MacDonald. SMARR PROVIDED an indication of Tennessee's ability: "They beat Clemson 8-1, and have beaten four of the top ten teams in tne country. They have one of the two or three most talented teams we've played this year, especially at the doubles positions." The Volunteers were 17-4 and undefeated at home until Monday, and two of their losses were to second-ranked Trinity, which routed the Gamecocks 8-1 in March. Looking ahead to this weekend's brief but important road trip, the USC coach said, "Davidson is not a cks lose i believed if McGuire could be pressured to leave, then his coaching position was in serious jeopardy. "After Frank was pressured I knew full well that my future here at Carolina was in deep uncertainty," Jobe said. "I knew I'd have to check other places where I could get a position as a head coach because I knew my chances of becoming head coach here at Carolina were nil." Jobe had been in contact with two universities; Boston I ?rr US ll /nov^s TO HGHEi ndsVols bad team. We play them there on Friday, then we go to New Jersey to play Princeton. They have a real good team and are nationally ranked as usual, but even if we lose I think we have a good shot at making the tournament. And if we beat them...well, I'll be real upset if we don't make it then. "I BELIEVE we have one of the best five teams east of the Mississippi." The Gamecock record now stands at 24-5. "We were all psyched up because we knew that I we were out (of consideration for an NCAA Tournament bid) if we lost." Arthur Anastopoulo THE GAMECOCKS will meet the Wildcats of Davidson on Friday. tsut Carolina still has one more big match when they meet the Princeton Tigers at Princeton, N. J. on Sunday, April 23. The Gamecocks then close out their regular season schedule with home matches against Presbyterian (April 25) and The Citadel (April 26). fuirt omnrl / t/v v/^ ^ University and Denver. It is sad indeed that USC has Jost a coach with Jobe's experience and knowledge. However, when Walsh left Carolina it was apparent the possible successor to McGuire would not be one of the men on his ^staff. Walsh had been McGuire's right hand man and he, along with Jobe, would have been excellent choices to fill McGuire's shoes urhon flin nrio nuvn t,??w vuaui 1 CllI C3. IT IS UNFORTUNATE Jobe has 1 gone the same road as Walsh. < i g GROUND JUST BEP Softball teai state title By GREG DAVIE Gamecock Staff Writer With a team batting average o Softball is "more than ready" to d Winthrop. The Lady Gamecocks a eight-team field and are the to] tournament. *tn * ? uov^ meets Benedict College at tournament. Six of Coach Molly Maguire's eluding freshman Maureen Ahei Hughes. Ahem, a third baseman 1 batter with an even .500 average often resorts to the bunt. "USUALLY WHEN I get up to t) playing back by the base," said A1 drop a bunt." Hughes is the Lady Gamecock whipH 1 n nil I rloc cavorql ovvv,iai MUlllClUlia. Tournament team performer. Jeanie Mattheson and Sherry I combination, sport .400 and .3 Messinger is another returning Ai In the outfield are Dawn Eikme Patti McClellan. Senior co-captain year letterperson in the history of \ of catchers. Cindy Bradley and Gii BONNIE VENA is Maguire's chc on the mound. Fran Senn and Kan starting or relieving duty, but lead ful," according to Maguire. Carolina is undefeated in stat <<24 -J ?il muguuc, uuuesn iiookiiketnat w "But," the Lady Gamecock men and waltz out. We've got to play j errors are a thing of the past, ye problem." Another problem Maguire cited w opposed to the clay-compound infiel games. "We made sure that every good d ^grass field," she said. "I think we'll mon tn m u %/^ya %/ */-j Many Gamecock fans do not realize how important Jobe is to the success of Carolina's basketball program. McGuire had openly admitted this controversy concerning his duration here at USC would hurt Carolina's stature as a basketball power but what he failed to mention is the damage it caused in losing two fine coaches in Jobe and ixr_i~u WctlSII. Jobe was even more candid when he said, "The chances of becoming a black head coach in the south are Mi LEHIGH 1 DENVER I 3RE THE smn j ? V n to defend on road f over .350, the Carolina women's lefend their state title tomorrow at re tne only undefeated team in the xspseed in the double-elimination 9 a.m. in the opening round of the starters are hitting over .300, inrn and junior co-captain Lauren From Buffalo, N.Y. , is the leading . As Carolina's leadoff hitter, she tie plate, I see their third-baseman lern. "That allows a >nt of room to first-baseman. She is hitting .481, She is also a two-time State AllVfessinger. Carolina's dniihl??-niav _ . 90 batting marks respectively. ll-Tournament player. ier (.321), Chris Ricken (.304) and Maureen McCauley, the only fourJSC women's athletics, leads a trio na Gaudette could also see action. >ice to start tomorrow's first game ;n Pappas are available for either ing pitcher Holly Booth is "doubte tournament action, and, said ,;u H.: ? ? in umugt; mis weenena. tor added, "we can't just waltz in *ood ball. I think that the mental ;t the physical errors could be a as the grass infield at Winthrop, as Id Carolina employs for their home ay would be used to get used to the be ready to play by Friday." j T)p.n/i)p.r almost impossible. I just took advantage of a fine opportunity because my new position gives me the chance to coach as well as to teach." Though the University of Denver is not a Kentucky or UCLA in Jobe basketball ability, Jobe will build a schedule which will meet the team's ability. "The university is not basketball crazy in terms of winning at any cost. They realize the importance of developing a sound athletic program but they are not desperate to win the national championship in basketball," he said. Both Walsh and Jobe have fine futures and both were smart enough to sense that hv ctainnn _ ~J nig here at Carolina they were on a collision course with disaster. Each of the two men have a superior background in the game and with both men young in age it is a shame USC may never again use their talents.