KU Hosts #16 BYU, Arkansas in Jayhawk Classic
Sept. 6, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
KU Hosts #16 BYU, Arkansas in Jayhawk Classic
After participating in two tournaments away from home, Kansas brings a 6-1 record into this week’s Jayhawk Classic in Lawrence. The Jayhawks, winners of four straight, will host two unbeaten teams in No. 16 BYU (Thursday, 7 p.m) and Arkansas (Saturday, 1 p.m.) at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. Live Gametracker, recaps and box scores for all matches can be found right here.
The Tournament Field
BYU (6-0) jumped to a No. 16 ranking Monday after a 3-1 upset of then-ranked No. 4 Stanford on Sept. 1, marking its highest ranked opponent defeat since Nov. 18, 2000. BYU right side hitter Erica Lott was named Mountain West Player of the Week Monday after leading the Cougars to a 3-0 record at the BYU Molten Classic in Provo, Utah, over the weekend. Lott was awarded tournament MVP honors for her team-leading kills performance in all three matches, starting with her match-high 20 versus then-No. 4 Stanford. Lott leads the Cougar offense with 4.79 kills per game on a .367 attack percentage and records 1.21 blocks per game this season. Four other Cougar starters contribute 1.87 or more kills per game while setter Amy Schlauder runs the offense with 12.58 assists per game. The BYU offense has maintained an impressive .323 hitting efficiency and 2.83 blocks per game through six matches in 2006. BYU returns 11 letterwinners from a MWC championship squad that advanced to the NCAA Tournament and finished the season 25-4 in 2005.
Arkansas (6-0) remained unbeaten over the weekend, capturing the title at the Arkansas Invitational on Sept. 2. The Lady’Backs defeated Sacramento State (3-1), Stephen F. Austin (3-2) and Southeast Missouri State (3-0) and outside hitter Denitza Koleva, outside hitter Jessica Dorrell and middle blocker Amy Allison earned all-tournament honors. Koleva, who averages a team-best 3.79 kills per game and a .278 attack percentage, recorded her sixth consecutive double-double of the season (kills and digs). Arkansas’ 6-0 start is the best since the Lady’Backs began the 2002 season winning their first seven matches. UA, also a 2005 NCAA Tournament participant, returns 10 letterwinners to a squad that finished 21-12 and won the Southeastern Conference (West) last season.
Kansas vs. …
…BYU — The Cougars lead the all-time series, 3-0. KU looks to avenge a 3-1 loss to BYU in Provo on Sept. 2, 2005.
…Arkansas — The series is tied, 1-1. The Jayhawks claimed a 3-1 victory over UA on Sept. 1, 2004, in Fayetteville, Ark., while the Lady’Backs won the first meeting in a five-game thriller in Lawrence on Sept. 12, 2003.
For the Fans
Fans attending any game of the Jayhawk Classic will receive 2006 Kansas volleyball schedule magnets, pocket cards and posters.
Jayhawk to Watch
Emily Brown led Kansas with 4.50 kills per game while averaging 3.00 digs, 1.71 assists and 0.36 aces last week. Against UMKC, Brown paced the Jayhawks with a rare triple-double — 12 kills (.348), 10 assists and 10 digs. In the first game of the Temple Classic, Brown turned in a 20-kill performance to go with 12 digs and two aces. In the Maine contest, she felt short of the triple-double with nine kills (.353 attack percentage), eight assists and seven digs in three games. In the weekend finale in Philadelphia, Brown posted a match-best 22 kills (.320) and added 13 digs and five blocks for a team-leading 26.5 points against Rutgers. For her efforts, the junior right side hitter/setter was named to the Temple Classic all-tournament team.
Bechard Just Seven Wins Away From KU Milestone
KU head coach Ray Bechard is just seven wins away from becoming the winningest volleyball coach in school history. Frankie Albitz, head coach of the Jayhawks from 1985-93, finished her career with a 150-141 (.515) record in nine seasons at KU. Bechard (Grinnell, Kan.) is 144-109 in his ninth season at KU and carries a career coaching record of 860-169 over 22 seasons. He led the Jayhawks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003 and earned postseason bids in 2004 and 2005. Bechard is assisted by Jill Jones Stucky (Goodland, Kan.), who is in her ninth season at KU, and Christi Posey (Wichita, Kan.), who has been coaching the Jayhawks for seven years.
Temple Classic Leftovers
After sweeping UMKC in their home opener Aug. 29, the Jayhawks defeated Temple (3-1), Maine (3-0) and Rutgers (3-1) to win the Temple Classic in Philadelphia over the weekend … Senior outside hitter Jana Correa was named tournament MVP while junior right side hitter/setter Emily Brown and sophomore middle blocker Savannah Noyes earned all-tournament team honors … Brown led Kansas with 4.50 kills, 3.00 digs, 1.71 assists and 0.36 aces per game last week … Correa added 3.79 kills and 2.43 digs per game while Noyes recorded 3.43 kills and 0.64 blocks per game through four matches.
Jayhawk Classic Notes in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
