Kansas Returns Home To Host Texas A&M

Oct. 6, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Game Notes Get Acrobat Reader

Coming off a road win at Texas Tech to stop a three-match skid, the Kansas volleyball team (8-7, 2-4 Big 12) returns home to welcome Texas A&M (7-8, 2-3 Big 12) Wednesday, Oct. 8. Match time between the Jayhawks and Aggies is set for 7 p.m.

Free live stats are available on Kansas Athletics’ official website at www.kuathletics.com. In addition, fans can access live video streaming on the website for a subscription fee.

About Kansas

Kansas picked up its first conference road win Saturday defeating Texas Tech 3-1 to stop a three-match skid, its longest losing streak of the season. At 8-7 overall and 2-4 in Big 12 play, sophomore Karina Garlington leads the Jayhawks with 3.93 kps, which ranks third in the Big 12. Since the start of Big 12 matches, Savannah Noyes, a senior middle blocker, has led the team with a .328 hitting percentage, good enough for eighth in the league. Freshman Nicole Tate is also in the Big 12 standings coming in at number six with 9.59 aps. Junior Melissa Grieb recently moved into the conference rankings with 0.30 aces per set in league matches, eighth among Big 12 players. Grieb is digging up 2.15 balls per set in conference play behind sophomore Melissa Manda, who leads the team with 3.30 dps.

Head coach Ray Bechard is in his 11th season as head coach of the Jayhawks with a 169-151 overall record.

Scouting Texas A&M

Texas A&M recorded a five-set victory over Missouri last Saturday to stop a two-match skid and improve to 2-3 in the Big 12 and 7-8 overall. The Aggies are just 1-7 on the road this season with their last win away from College Station on Sept. 12. In Big 12 action, junior Mary Batis is sixth in the conference averaging 3.70 kps for the Aggies and also leads the team with 3.11 dps for the season. Fellow junior Sarah Ammerman is second on the team with 2.90 kps. Defensively TAMU is second in the Big 12 averaging 2.45 bps led by Darla Donaldson, a senior, with 1.33 bps. Four players contribute over two digs per set in league matches. Junior Jennifer Banse is tops with 2.90 dps. Jillian Phillips, who was sidelined three matches into the season with a stress fracture, recently returned to the Aggies’ rotation. The senior led the team in blocks prior to her injury.

Texas A&M is coached by Laurie Corbelli who is 334-152 in her 16th year with the Aggies

Series History

Texas A&M leads the all-time series with the Jayhawks 21-4, and has won the last three meetings. All four of KU’s wins against the Aggies have come in the last five years with the last victory on Sept. 20, 2006 in a five-set match.

Cracking the Career Charts

Senior Savannah Noyes picked up a solo block at Texas A&M Saturday night to crack KU’s top 10 career solo blocks list. Noyes has 49 solo rejections for her career, tying 2007 senior Emily Brown.

Seeing Doubles

Freshman setter Nicole Tate recorded her team-high fourth double-double and second straight Saturday night at Texas Tech. The St. Louis, Mo., native had 43 assists and 11 digs against the Red Raiders.

Early Indicator

The first set of a match seems to be a good indicator for the Jayhawks. KU is 5-1 when winning the first set compared to a 3-6 record when dropping its first contest of a match.

Big12Sports.com

The new Big12Sports.com is the official web site of the Big 12 Conference. The site has been redesigned to be a destination for fans of Big 12 Conference athletics and a secondary location for information about its institutions’ campuses, athletes and events.

Beginning Monday, October 6, the University of Kansas will be “IN FOCUS” with a different student-athlete featured each day in a combination of video “On the Spot” segments and feature stories. The Kansas lineup includes: Monday- Darrell Stucky (football); Tuesday- Karina Garlington (volleyball); Wednesday- Mike Rivera (football) and Kelsey and Kortney Clifton (soccer); Thursday- Micah Brown (football); Friday- Todd Reesing (football).

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

After its match with Texas A&M, the Jayhawks have a bye week the weekend of Oct. 11 with no matches scheduled. Kansas will take to the court again when they head to Missouri on Wednesday, Oct. 15 for the first Border Showdown of the year. Match time with the Tigers is set for 6:30 p.m.

Upcoming Promotions

The Jayhawks’ contest with Texas A&M is “Heroes Night.” Any health professionals, public safety personnel, military personnel and teachers can get into the match for only $3 with proper i.d.