Volleyball Hosts Kansas State In Big 12 Opener Wednesday

Sept. 10, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas volleyball opens its 2007 Big 12 Conference season this Wednesday when it plays host to in-state rival Kansas State at 7 p.m. in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.

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A Glance At the Jayhawks

Kansas enters Wednesday’s contest 7-3 overall and is currently riding a five-match winning streak. The team went undefeated in last weekend’s Jayhawk Classic picking up wins over St. Peter’s, Wyoming and Morehead State for the tournament title.

Savannah Noyes guided Kansas with a team-best .459 hitting (22K-5E-37TA). Emily Brown averaged 7.45 assists per game while Melissa Manda dug up 4.73 balls per game after the weekend’s 11 games.

Scouting Kansas State
The Wildcats come to Lawrence 8-2 overall after sweeping all three of its opponents last weekend. Kansas State’s only two losses this year came at the hands of ranked opponents, No. 16 Hawai’i and No. 5 UCLA. KSU is currently ranked 19th in the country.

Kansas State is led by Natalya Korobkova who ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 4.41 kpg. Front row duo Megan Farr and Kelsey Chipman rank third and fourth in the conference averaging 1.63 and 1.37 bpg, respectively.

The Series
Kansas State leads the all-time series 53-34. In 2006, the teams split 1-1, each notching a victory on its home court. KU took a 3-1 victory at Horejsi, while KSU tallied a 3-0 win in Manhattan, Kan.

Last Meeting
Kansas last met up with the Wildcats in its final game of the 2006 season on Nov. 26. Kansas was topped 3-0 (30-16, 30-14, 30-28) on Kansas State’s home court.

Against the Ranks
This Wednesday’s contest is Kansas’ first match-up with a ranked team this season. Kansas State was ranked 19th in the latest CSTV/AVCA Coaches’ poll.

Big 12 Openers
Since the first year of Big 12 volleyball in 1996, Kansas has compiled a 4-7 record in Big 12 openers. Of the Jayhawks’ four victories, three were at home while only two of their seven losses were at home.

Up Next
Kansas’ five-match home stand comes to an end this weekend as the Jayhawks travel to Norman, Okla. to take on the Sooners. Match time is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.