Third Straight Ranked Opponent Awaits Jayhawks Wednesday In No. 17 Kansas State

Sept. 29, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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Another Top 25 team awaits the Kansas volleyball team as the Jayhawks are scheduled to host in-state rival and the nation’s 17th ranked team, Kansas State, Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.

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

» Kansas State is the third straight Top 25 team faced by the Jayhawks.

» The Wildcats have been ranked in the Top 25 in seven of their last nine meetings with KU.

» KU picked up its second set win over a top five team this season when it won 25-20 in set three against No. 3 Texas last Saturday.

» The Jayhawks are 0-3 this year against ranked teams.

About Kansas

After suffering setbacks to No. 2 Nebraska and No. 3 Texas last week, Kansas is 7-6 overall and 1-3 in Big 12 play. Sophomore Karina Garlington is fourth in the Big 12 with 3.94 kps and ninth with 0.36 service aces per set. Also listed in the conference leaders chart is freshman setter Nicole Tate who comes in at number six with 9.96 aps. Since the start of Big 12 matches, Savannah Noyes, a senior middle blocker, has led the team with a .309 hitting percentage, up from her .183 attacking efficiency in non-conference action. She is also contributing 2.00 kps in Big 12 contests along with sophomore outside hitter Jenna Kaiser, who recently returned to the Kansas lineup after sitting out the beginning of the season to heal an injury. Sophomore Melissa Manda has started all 13 matches at libero for Kansas and digs a team-high 3.04 balls per set.

Head coach Ray Bechard is in his 11th season as head coach of the Jayhawks with a168-150 overall record.

Scouting Kansas State

At 13-2 overall and and 3-1 in Big 12 action, Kansas State has won its last three matches heading into Lawrence, including a 3-1 win over Baylor last weekend. The Wildcats lead the conference with 14.21 kps, but are fourth in Big 12 matches with 13.50 kps. Rita Liliom paces the conference averaging 4.35 kps, while teammate Megan Farr is tops in the league with a .451 hitting percentage. Farr, who also posts a team-high 1.33 bps, is an even better .500 attack percentage in Big 12 matches having committed just four hitting errors in 14 sets. KSU uses a dual setter system ran by Abby Fay and Soriana Pacheco who set 8.87 and 7.41 aps, respectively. Pacheco also has a team-best 0.35 service aces per set. The Wildcats average 1.43 aces per set in conference action to lead the league.

Kansas State is coached by Suzie Fritz who has a 160-73 overall record with the Wildcats.

Series History

Kansas State holds a 55-34 edge in the all-time series with Kansas, including a 24-15 advantage in Lawrence. KU has dropped its last three contests to the Wildcats and have won just twice since the 1995 season.

Its a Sellout

For the fourth year in a row, all 1,300 seats at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center are sold out for the annual Sunflower Showdown between Kansas and Kansas State. Since the completion of the Horejsi Center in 1999, Kansas has sold out its match against K-State six times.

Sister Act

Sophomore defensive specialist Melissa Townsend will see a familiar face on the other side of the net Wednesday night as her older sister, Leslie, is a defensive specialist for the Wildcats.

Making Some Noyes

After averaging 1.72 kps on a .183 attack percentage, senior Savannah Noyes has improved her stats during Big 12 Conference play. Noyes leads the Jayhawks with a .309 hitting percentage and is second on the team with 2.00 kps in league contests. The 6-3 Indianola, Neb., native is currently seventh on KU’s attack percentage record list with a .245 career hitting percentage.

Allison’s Ace

Freshman Allison Mayfield made her first collegiate service ace a memorable one. In the fourth set against Texas on Sept. 27, Mayfield’s serve hit the top of the net, barely making it over to Texas’ side, where it landed between a group of Longhorns. The ace came at a crucial moment in the contest as it brought KU within one of UT at 24-23 giving the Jayhawks hope of forcing a fifth set, but Texas recorded the match-winning kill in its next possession.

Garlington in Nation’s Top 40

In the latest NCAA statistics (through games on Sept. 29), sophomore Karina Garlington is 37th in the nation averaging 3.94 kps. Garlington has reached as high as 16th in the NCAA statistics.

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

Kansas will face its first non-ranked team since Sept. 20 this weekend as it travels to Texas Tech Saturday, Oct. 4. Match time with the Red Raiders is set for 7 p.m. in Lubbock, Texas.