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Show 6 Wednesday, August 31, 2011 SPORTS www.dailyutahchronicle.corn VOLLEYBALL UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS Utes drop final set to Slovenia THURSDAY: Football Utah vs. Montana State 7 p.m. Rice-Eccles Stadium UTES IN BRIEF Parker Lee FOOTBALL UTAH: 2 Nova KBM: 3 STAFF WRITER Waiver allows Hawaii's Walker to play for Utah Utah faced Nova KBM from Slovenia on Tuesday in a match that technically didn't count. However, neither team appeared to treat it like a practice game. The game looked promising for Utah early on but eventually took a turn for the worse. After winning the first two sets, the Utes dropped three straight to lose the match 3-2 Jake Bullinger ASST. SPORTS EDITOR The NCAA has granted a waiver to Lewis Walker, a transfer cornerback from Hawaii. Walker joined the Utes and is eligible to play immediately this season. Walker transferred from Hawaii for spring camp with the Utes. He was redshirted in 2008 and was a reserve corner in 2009 and 2010. During his career with the Warriors, he tallied 28 tackles. Before Hawaii, Walker played high school football at Judge Memorial High in Salt Lake City. Walker has an athletic pedigree—his older brother Johnny was a wide receiver at Colorado State, and his younger brother Keenyn was taken by the Chicago White Sox with the 47th overall pick in last season's MLB Draft. j.bullinger@ chronicle.utah.edu (25-23, 25-22, 16-25, 20-25, 5-15). NATHAN SWEET/The Daily Utah Chronicle Freshman Shelby Dalton saw significant playing time Tuesday against Slovenia's Nova KBM. Utah lost in five sets. SOCCER Utah led for the first half of the opening set. Nova KBM briefly took the lead, but the Utes reclaimed it. They were unable to close it out on the first two set points. But they finally got it done on the third to win the set. Erin Redd and Morgan Odale combined for 12 kills on just 18 attempts in the set. It was much of the same in the second set. Both teams failed to snag much of a lead of more than a few points. There were 18 ties and io lead changes in the second frame alone but Utah grabbed the advantage late and held on to take a 2-0 set lead. It was a different look for the Utes in the third set. They started with four freshmen on the court. Nova KBM opened up a 5-6 point lead, which would end up being enough. Utah would get a few points to cut into the lead, but a few mental mistakes put an end to the would-be runs. The fourth set was also close. It stayed even until Utah got to within one at 17-18. n NEXT GAME: UTAH vs. Colgate Friday at 3 p.m. New Haven, Conn. Then Nova KBM scored five of the next six points. The U could not overcome the deficit and Nova KBM won by five to force a fifth and final set. After overcoming a two-set deficit to tie the match, Nova KBM had all the momentum. They stayed hot to begin the deciding set, winning the first five points. The Utes could not get anything going in the fifth. Every shot from the Slovenian team seemed to be just out of reach or too hard to handle. Nova KBM won the set in convincing fashion, 15-5, to complete the comeback. "It took them a little while to get warmed up, and when they did they were a typical European team," said Utah head coach Beth Launiere. "Really not surprising the kind of match that was." Freshmen Alli Spurrier and Shelby Dalton both saw significant playing time. Launiere said getting some of the subs more playing time was one of the purposes of playing this exhibition match. She also said playing See KBM Page 9 Hobbled Utes still put up a good fight Alex Rasmussen STAFF WRITER SPENCER SANDSTROM/The Daity Utah Chronicle Hannah Turpen tries to save a shot against Nevada. Turpen is leading a young and injury-riddled Utah team. Injuries have plagued the Utah soccer team in the past, and it seems the injury bug won't let it escape this season either. Utah opened the season at Cal State Fullerton, but was only able to travel with 16 out of the 27 players capable of suiting up. That number soon dwindled even lower as the Utes took to the soccer field. The Utes lost junior midfielder Katie Martinez to a knee injury against Fullerton. That forced her to miss the BYU game and all practices since. Utah was forced to dress only 15 players to take on the Cougars, and that total diminished once again. Utah captain Lauren Porter hurt her knee during a collision with a BYU forward. All the injured Utes are making progress, but Porter and Martinez are doubtful for Friday's match at Utah State. Head coach Rich Manning said some girls are closer than others to getting back to full strength, but he is unsure when any of them will be able to get back on the field. Despite a withered roster, Utah was able to keep its home opener against Nevada close until the Wolf Pack found the net in the 83rd minute. As the Utes move forward, Manning is looking to his young squad to lead the way into conference play. "We have a good team and we are going to fix our challenges," Manning said. "We just need to focus and continue to get better and make sure this week is another positive step." All io of Utah's starting field players are underclassmen, including five true freshmen. Utah has limped out of the gates this season, but the progression of Utah's young players is a silver lining amid the injuries and struggles. Experience will be an invaluable asset when the Utes eventually reach conference play and face national powerhouses like Stanford in the Pac-12. Along with the improvement of young players, Manning has been impressed with the outstanding play of goalkeeper Hannah Turpen. See SOCCER Page 9 FOOTBALL Wynn next QB legend, Chow says Bubba Brown STAFF WRITER Although he has been Utah's starting quarterback for the past season and a half, exactly how good Jordan Wynn can be is still somewhat of a mystery. After spending his freshman season getting acclimated to big-time college football, Wynn played much of last season with an injured shoulder, meaning Utah fans don't have an accurate, extended look at what the junior quarterback can do. Wynn can be one of the best quarterbacks in the country if he stays healthy, said offensive coordinator Norm Chow. The venerable coordinator, who is in his first season with the Utes, even went so far as to See WYNN Page 9 1— THE GREAT DEBATE —1 Which team will win the Pac-12 South? Bowl veteran ASU has advantage Utes poised to shock in rookie season H onestly, it's quite a mystery as to who will win the Pac-12 South division in 2011. Without a clearcut favorite to compete in the conference championship game, there is still one team that seems to stick out a little more than others. With USC barred from postseason play, and because it's Utah's first season of BCS football, Arizona State seems to be the most likely candidate to win the South. ASU has talent all over the field, and that includes the sidelines. Head coach Dennis Erickson won two National Championships at Miami in the late '8os and early '9os, so he knows how to compete at a high level. He had ASU on the cusp of success a season ago, and this will be the year he turns it around. Leading the offense will be 6-foot 8-inch junior quarterback Brock Osweiler. Although he played sparingly in the beginning of last season, he made up for it in the final two games. In victories over UCLA and rival Arizona last year, Osweiler threw for five touchdowns, nearly 65o yards and, most importantly, zero interceptions. Each one of the four wide receivers on the depth chart are seniors, and there is little doubt Osweiler and the offense will pick up right T StaffWriter where he left off. When it comes to the Arizona State defense, there is one name you need to know—Vontaze Burfict. Burfict is the prototypical game-changing linebacker: He is a prime physical specimen, an All-American, a top NFL prospect and the undoubted leader of what should be one of the best Pac-12 defenses. Burfict won't be the only player making noise in the front seven on defense. With Pac-io Defensive Freshman of the Year Junior Onyeali returning, ASU should dominate the line of scrimmage. The loss of star cornerback Omar Bolden to an ACL tear could be a problem, but the stellar VS See PATTON Page 9 Vote on who won this week D he Utes kick off the highly anticipated 2011 football season Thursday night against the Montana State Bobcats. The Utes are a legitimate threat in their inaugural Pac-12 season, and with USC still sanctioned by the NCAA this season, the Pac-12 South division will come down to either Arizona State or Utah—and the Utes will come out on top. The first half of the season's schedule favors the Utes as they take on the toughest teams while they still have health and energy on their side. In five of the first six games, Utah faces teams capable of finishing the year nationally ranked—USC, BYU, Pittsburgh, Arizona State and Washington. Although it might seem a bit overwhelming for the Utes, they • are ready to come out firing on all cylinders. After being throttled by Boise State in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas in December, the Utes are eager to get rid of the bitter taste that's been in their mouths for eight months. Under the leadership of junior quarterback Jordan Wynn, Utah's new pro-style offense has the ability to turn some heads around the country. With offensive coordinator Norm Chow running the show, the www.dailyutahchronicle.com Staff Writer Utes have an arsenal of talented players to answer the call. Receiver DeVonte Christopher will again be Wynn's go-to guy this season, and he is accompanied by fellow receivers Reggie Dunn, Dres Anderson, Dexter Ransom and Sean Fitzgerald. A new batch of players emerged during the summer to replace Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide, with running back John White leading the way. The junior college transfer from California presents a challenge to the Utes' early opponents. Aside from knowing that White is a quick, smaller back, opponents will have little time to study film and prepare their defense against White's game. And when White's size and speed aren't required, senior tailback See CARROLL Page 9 |