Crimson and Blue Match to Provide Sneak Peek of 2011 Jayhawk Volleyball
Aug. 19, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Although the University of Kansas volleyball team will not officially take the floor at Horejsi Family Athletics Center until Sept. 2, the Jayhawks will be on display at the Crimson and Blue match, Saturday at 3 p.m.
Head coach Ray Bechard will give fans the opportunity to see the 2011 edition of the Jayhawks in action prior to the season home opener on Sept. 2 by hosting an intrasquad scrimmage in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center, Saturday at 3 p.m. The event is free to the public and will feature live-game action as Bechard and his staff will split the team into two opposing squads as a conclusion to the team’s two-a-day preseason practice schedule.
A reception to welcome back the program’s alumni will take place following the match.
Many of the faces on the floor will be familiar ones, as Kansas returns 14 letterwinners from a season ago and adds just two freshmen to the 2011 roster, Chelsea Albers and Sara McClinton.
A four year letterwinner at Papillion LaVista High School (Neb.), Albers was crowned the Omaha World Herald’s Girls’ 2010-11 Athlete of the Year for the state of Nebraska. After leading her team to its second-straight district championship her senior year, Albers was named to the Under Armour Girls High School All-America Second Team.
The two-time Super-State honoree also helped power PLVHS to state championships in 2007 and 2008. The following year, Albers led the state of Nebraska with 487 kills in 2009 and was second in blocks.
Also a Nebraska native, McClinton led Millard North High School to district championships in 2008 and 2010. After leading her team, McClinton was named all-Nebraska Super-State First Team her senior season. Continuously improving, she started her high school career as an all-state honorable mention member in 2008 and 2009.
The pair of freshmen are surrounded by sources of valuable experience. Five starting position players, as well as the full-time libero from last season, are back on the scene this fall. Senior outside hitter Allison Mayfield leads the returning core with 303 kills last season. Starting middle blockers junior Tayler Tolefree and redshirt sophomore Caroline Jarmoc return after joining forces for 212.0 total blocks in 2010. Sophomore defensive specialist and libero Brianne Riley’s 4.11 digs per set ranked in the top 10 in the Big 12 Conference last season.
UP NEXT
Kansas will open the 2011 campaign in Athens, Ga., against Florida A&M in the opening match of the University of Georgia Bulldog Invitational. First serve is set for Aug. 26 at 3:30 p.m. CT.
Fans can watch live streaming of the Kansas vs. Georgia match on Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. by clicking here. All matches will be available on GameTracker by accessing the Kansas Volleyball schedule on kuathletics.com.
