KU Volleyball Opens 2010 Season at Bluejay Invitational This Weekend

Aug. 26, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Complete Game Notes

Preseason All-Big 12 Team selection senior Karina Garlington and top returning offensive threat junior Allison Mayfield will be looked upon to lead the Kansas volleyball team into their 2010 debut at the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, Neb., this weekend, Aug. 27-28.

The Jayhawks, who welcome back nine letterwinners and four starters, open the tournament versus Lipscomb, which went 22-0 in its league last year, on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Saturday KU will take on San Francisco at 10 a.m. before concluding the invite versus host Creighton at 7:30 p.m.

Mayfield’s 3.65 kills per set in 2009 was fifth in the Big 12 Conference, while Garlington was eighth averaging 3.31 kills per set. Also back for Kansas is senior Melissa Manda at the libero position to anchor the KU defense after averaging a team-high 3.52 digs per set last year.

Thirteenth-year head coach Ray Bechard has added eight talented newcomers to this year’s mix. His recruiting class was ranked No. 26 by PrepVolleyball.com. The class includes one player ranked in the top 50 nationally by PrepVolleyball.com (setter Kara Wehrs) and an Evelyn Gates Award honoree, given to the top female volleyball player in the Kansas City area, in outside hitter Marianne Beal.

Creighton will be providing a live stats and video feed for all matches. Those links can be accessed through KU volleyball’s online schedule at www.kuathletics.com/volleyball.