Kyle KausFootball

Vicenza

Last week: Kaus, a 5-10, 175-pound senior tailback, scored three TDs and rushed for 175 yards Saturday as Vicenza toppled 2008 European Division III champion AFNORTH 23-14 in a Division II European quarterfinal game.

“He had a big hand in it,” Vicenza coach Adam Ridgley said Monday as the Cougars (5-1) moved into Saturday’s semifinal at Ansbach. “He had two big runs that set the tone. The bigger one came in the third quarter with the game tied 14-14. He busted a 71-yard TD run. It was really big. We were tight at the time and that got us loose.”

Kaus’ decisive TD run came off a lead play, Ridgley said, but added that his tailback can run outside, too.

“He’s got deceptive speed,” Ridgley said. “It looks like he’s just jogging back there, but then he turns the corner and he’s gone.”

Ridgley said this Saturday’s game at Ansbach once again pits Kaus, who has rushed for 560 yards this season, against a familiar opponent, Ansbach All-Europe quarterback Dominic Barrale.

“Kyle finished second to Dominic last season in wrestling,” Ridgley reminded.

Edite BauskaVolleyballSHAPE

Last week: Edite (Ezzy) Bauska, a junior outside hitter and setter and All-Europe selection in 2008, excelled in both roles Saturday. Bauska, a Latvian, totaled 12 kills, handed out 39 assists and served nine aces to help the Lady Spartans improve to 11-0 with victories over Wiesbaden and Mannheim.

However impressive those totals might appear to the casual onlooker, it’s just another day at the office for Bauska.

“Ezzy consistently puts up the same numbers week after week,” SHAPE coach Hamilton McWhorter said of his team captain, who has dished out 147 assists in those 11 victories. “Her unselfishness on the court is apparent in the number of assists handed out by her each game.”

Bauska, whom McWhorter called the heart of his team, upped her season totals to 75 kills and 35 aces on Saturday as the Lady Spartans, the defending European D-II champions, readied themselves for a run this year at the D-I crown.

“We were moved from Division II to Division I midseason.” McWhorter said, “and the girls are ready for the enormous challenge facing them in the Europeans. We expect to be extremely competitive.”

Selected by Stars and Stripes staff

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