Volleyball Takes On Second-Straight Top Five Team In No. 3 Texas Saturday

Sept. 26, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Game Notes

Kansas volleyball (7-5, 1-2 Big 12) takes on its second-straight Top five opponent in No. 3 Texas (7-2, 1-1 Big 12) this Saturday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.

Free live stats will be available on the Kansas Athletics official website at www.kuathletics.com. In addition, fans can access live video streaming through Jayhawk All-Access on the website with a subscription fee.

Quick Hits

» Texas is the second of three straight Top 25 teams the Jayhawks will face and the second ranked opponent faced by KU at home so far this season.

» The Jayhawks are 0-2 this year against ranked teams.

» Texas has been ranked in the Top 25 in KU’s last eight meetings with the Longhorns. UT’s current No. 3 ranking ties its highest spot when playing the Jayhawks as Texas was also ranked third in their last meeting together on Nov. 7, 2007.

» Kansas is 4-1 at home this season.

About Kansas

Despite picking up its first set win at Nebraska since 1998, Kansas is coming off a 3-1 loss to the No. 2 Cornhuskers with a 7-5 overall record and 1-2 Big 12 mark. Sophomore Karina Garlington continues to pace the Jayhawks averaging 4.20 kps and 4.50 kps in league contests. The Kansas offense received a boost from fellow sophomore Jenna Kaiser who recently returned to the KU lineup after sitting out with an injury for the beginning of the year. She has 14 kills through nine sets. Sophomore Melissa Manda has started all 12 matches at libero for Kansas and digs a team-high 3.11 balls per set. Melissa Grieb, a junior backrow player, has been a huge contributor in Big 12 play with 3.00 dps. Senior middle blocker Natalie Uhart leads the Jayhawks with 0.89 bps.

Head coach Ray Bechard is in his 11th season as head coach of the Jayhawks with a168-149 overall record.

Scouting Texas

Texas comes to Lawrence 7-2 overall and 1-1 in Big 12 play after a close sweep of Iowa State (25-19, 27-25, 27-25) on Wednesday. The Longhorns’ two losses have come to Top 5 teams as they were downed by then-No. 2 Stanford in five sets (Aug. 31) and current No. 2 Nebraska in four (Sept. 20). As a team, Texas leads the Big 12 and is sixth in the nation with a .313 attack percentage. Senior Lauren Paolini is tops on the team swinging .425 (.633 in Big 12 matches). The Longhorns also lead the conference with 2.83 bps behind sophomore Jennifer Doris who is averaging 1.09 bps. Junior Destinee Hooker has been UT’s top offensive threat chipping in 4.03 kps and an even better 4.71 kps in conference matches to lead the Big 12.

Jerritt Elliott is 163-60 in his eighth season as head coach at Texas.

Series History

Kansas trails the all-time series with Texas 23-4 dating back to 1981. KU last defeated Texas, who owns an eight-match winning streak over the Jayhawks, on Nov. 8, 2003. Kansas has won three of its four victories over Texas in Lawrence.

Last Time Out

LINCOLN, Neb. — After falling behind two sets to none, the Kansas volleyball team became just the fourth team to win a set against Nebraska this season as the Jayhawks notched a 25-22 set three victory at No. 2 Nebraska Wednesday night. KU lost the match 3-1 by scores of 25-15, 25-19, 22-25, and 25-15. Sophomore Karina Garlington notched double digit kills for the third consecutive time collecting a team-high 10 kills. Savannah Noyes followed with nine, while Williams added seven kills along with a team-best five blocks. Junior Melissa Grieb also finished in double figures, digging up 11 balls.

KU’s 3-1 Loss At Nebraska Means…

– Kansas became just the fourth team this season to win a set versus the No. 2 Nebraska Huskers.

– KU’s 25 points in the third set also marked just the seventh time that a team has tallied more than 20 points against Nebraska in its 37 sets this season.

– Kansas picked up its first set win against NU since Oct. 8, 2005, and the Jayhawks’ first set win in Lincoln in 10 years as KU last picked up a win on the Huskers’ home court on Oct. 24, 1998.

Comeback Kids

Kansas’ 3-2 victory over Iowa State on Sept. 20 was the second time this season the Jayhawks have rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to win a match. Earlier in the year, KU dropped its first two sets at Wyoming only to battle back and win the last three for a 3-2 victory. Additionally, Kansas also came back to win its third set against Cleveland State (Sept. 12) and at Nebraska (Sept. 24), but was unable to record victories in those two matches.

Tough Road Ahead

Kansas’ meeting with No. 2 Nebraska was only the start of a tough stretch of schedule for the Jayhawks. Following the Huskers, KU is scheduled to play two more Top 20 teams in No. 3 Texas this Saturday, Sept. 27, and then versus No. 17 Kansas State on Oct. 1.

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.

Up Next

The Jayhawks take on their third-straight Top 25 team when they host in-state rival Kansas State Wednesday, Oct. 1. Match time at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live stats will be available on the Kansas Athletics official website at www.kuathletics.com. Live video of the match can also be accessed on KU’s website with a subscription fee.