Volleyball To Host Jayhawk Invitational In Home Opener

Sept. 3, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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Volleyball To Host Jayhawk Invitational In Home Opener

Kansas Volleyball (1-1) will hold its home opener this weekend as it hosts Utah Valley (0-2), No. 13 Oregon (2-1) and Central Florida (2-2) Sept. 5-6 in the Jayhawk Invitational at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. KU will face Utah Valley Friday at noon in its first match of the tournament.

This weekend fans can get free 2008 volleyball schedule cards, magnets and posters during the Jayhawk Invitational. In addition, fans who bring their KU vs. FIU football ticket stub to Saturday’s volleyball contest can get into the match for just $3.

Quick Hits

» Oregon is the first ranked opponent faced by the Jayhawks in 2008.

» The Jayhawks are a combined 2-2 against this weekend’s Jayhawk Invite opponents.

» Kansas lost its season opener to VCU on Aug. 29, the first time KU has lost in its season debut under 11th year head coach Ray Bechard.

» In just six sets, the Jayhawks have already tallied 16 service aces compared to their opponents’ five and rank second in the Big 12 with 2.67 aces per set.

» KU went 7-3 last season in non-Big 12 matches.

Last Time Out

Sophomore Karina Garlington tallied a match-high 14 kills to tie a career best, along with a personal-high five service aces to help lead Kansas volleyball (1-1) to a 3-0 victory over NC State (0-3) last Saturday to wrap up the VCU Invitational. KU swept the Wolfpack by scores of 25-15, 25-13 and 25-15.

Kansas topped the Wolfpack in every offensive and defensive category during the match, including a 38-24 advantage in kills and a 12-2 advantage in service aces. Additionally, four Jayhawks finished with hitting percentages over .350. Junior Brittany Williams posted a .600 hitting efficiency committing just one error in 10 attempts and recording seven kills.

Gameday Parking

Due to renovations and improvements to Kansas Athletics facilities, fans must park in the lots adjacent to Hoglund Ballpark. Fans can access these lots by taking Naismith Drive and then heading west on Oliver Hall Drive. Patrons will still enter the Horejsi Family Athletics Center on the east side. Signage will be up to help direct fans.

Game Tickets

Fans can purchase season and single-game tickets to KU home matches by phone at 800-34-HAWKS, online at KUAthletics.com or at the doors of the Horejsi Center prior to match time.

Mayfield’s Debut

For the second year in a row, Kansas’ offense was led by a freshman player in the team’s season opener. Newcomer Allison Mayfield posted a match-high 11 kills at VCU on Aug. 29. Then-freshman Jenna Kaiser led the KU attack in 2007, leading the Jayhawks with 14 kills.

Garlington’s Career Match

Outside hitter Karina Garlington had a career night against NC State on Aug. 30. The sophomore served up a personal-best five aces, the most since Emily Brown had five service aces on Nov. 12, 2005. Garlington also tied a career best with 14 kills against the Wolfpack.

Important Rule Changes For 2008

Terminology – The term “game” will be changed to “set”. A match still consists of the best three out of five sets.

Points Required to Win a Set – Instead of 30 points, the number of points needed to win sets one through four is now 25 (and a two-point lead). Fifteen points (and a two-point lead) is still the requirement to win the fifth (deciding) set.

Substitutions – Each team is now allowed a maximum of 12 substitutions per set.

Points of Emphasis:

Ball Handling Decisions – In recent years, referee training has emphasized focusing on the player’s contact point with the ball, and not allowing outside influences, such as spin after release, to influence ball handling decisions. A 2008 point of emphasis regarding the second team contact now instructs referees to only call multiple contacts that are obvious enough to be readily seen, and to be less severe when judging extremely athletic plays.

Up Next

The Jayhawks will have just three days to prepare for UMKC which comes to Lawrence Tuesday, Sept. 9. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.