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PECOS, Aug. 23 - The Pecos Eagles will get their second look in three
days at the Odessa High Bronchos and, more importantly, their first look
at the San Angelo Lake View Maidens, during pool round play today at the
Ector County ISD Volleyball Tournament.
The Eagles will face District 4-4A rival Lake View and Odessa High at 1
and 4 p.m. today, after opening the tournament with an 11 a.m. pool
round match against El Paso Jefferson.
The Eagles opened their 1996 season at home on Tuesday with a split of
their matches against Odessa High and Alpine. They beat the Bucks, 15-3,
16-18, 15-11, then fell to the Bronchos, 15-11, 15-11.
Serving problems kept the Eagles from getting any momentum going in
their games against the Bronchos and in the final two games with Alpine.
Pecos rallied in the third game against the Bucks behind junior hitter
Lori Marquez, who provided Pecos with the bulk of its offense Tuesday.
Eagles' coach Nora Geron said she was happy with the play of her lone
sophomore, Sherrie Mosby, who had a strong third game against the Bucks.
"Sherrie is going to come on. She's just a sophomore and it's her first
time on the varsity," Geron said. "She's just getting her feet wet, but
she's going to help a lot."
Lake View opened their season with a win over Midland Lee's varsity and
a loss to Snyder, whom the Eagles scrimmaged last Saturday. The Maidens
graduated most of their hitters from a year ago, when they placed third
and the Eagles fourth in the 4-4A standings.
The Eagles' bracket is the only one with four teams in it at this
weekend's 13-team tournament. The top two finishers in each bracket will
advance to Saturday's quarterfinals, at either 9:15 or 10:30 a.m. at the
Odessa High field house. The third place finisher in Pecos' pool will
play in the consolation semifinals at 1 p.m. in the OHS auxiliary gym,
while the fourth place finisher has an 8 a.m. quarterfinal matchup in
the OHS small gym.
Pecos' junior varsity also is playing at the Ector County Tournament
this weekend. The JV, which also beat Alpine and lost to Odessa High on
Tuesday, opened this morning with a match against Water Valley, followed
by back-to-back matches at 12 noon and 1 p.m. against Odessa Permian's
sophomores and Midland Lee's JV.
It all started down Mexico way in a preseason game at Monterrey when
Kendall Watkins, a tremendous blocker, caught a short pass and turned
upfield. The second year player out of Mississippi State suffered a
season-ending knee injury when he was tackled by several Kansas City
Chiefs.
``Kendall did a tremendous job as a blocker his rookie season,'' said
Switzer. ``He helped Emmitt Smith get some tough yards.''
So much for a blocker. How about one of the league's best receivers, Jay
Novacek?
Not only has Novacek failed to play in the preseason, but there are deep
concerns he may miss the first two or three games of the regular season
- or possibly the entire season - because of a degenerative back
condition.
Switzer said ``we're resigned to not having Jay for the opener and
there's no guarantee he can play this year.''
The 33-year-old Novacek, who has made the Pro Bowl five times, caught 62
passes for a career-high 705 yards last year. He's the Cowboys' career
leader in receptions by a tight end with 339.
Novacek is one of Troy Aikman's favorite targets, particularly on third
down.
Enter Eric Bjornson, a well-regarded prospect out of Washington who was
hampered by injuries last year.
Bjornson caught Aikman's eye last year.
``He runs great routes and has great hands,'' Aikman said.
Only one problem. Bjornson has been hampered by hamstring problems. He
hasn't played in a preseason game in three weeks.
``It's very frustrating,'' Bjornson said. ``Right now I'm hoping to be
ready for the opener (Sept. 2 in Chicago). I think I will be.''
Bjornson won't play Saturday in Orlando, Fla., when the Cowboys meet the
Houston Oilers in the exhibition season finale.
The Cowboys, who have about $275,000 remaining under the salary cap -
the NFL minimum salary for a veteran - have been making inquiries about
free agent Johnny Mitchell, a former New York Jet who signed with Miami
as a free agent, then quit the Miami Dolphins training camp after one
practice.
Dallas has only one healthy tight end on the roster, Derek Ware, a
five-year NFL veteran known more for his blocking than his catching.
The Cowboys could put fullback Daryl Johnston at tight end in a pinch.
He has played that position in several preseason games. But his
replacement at fullback, Herschel Walker, can't block like Johnston, a
Pro Bowl fullback.
``It's a tough situation,'' Switzer said. ``Luckily we still have time
to work through the problem.''
State and Regional Sports Pages--San Angelo Standard-Times
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Copyright 1996 by Pecos Enterprise
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