Jayhawks Ready for Second-Ranked Longhorns in Wednesday Volleyball Action

Oct. 12, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas vs. Texas Game Notes Get Acrobat Reader

In its third consecutive match versus a nationally-ranked team, the University of Kansas volleyball team (9-7, 2-5 Big 12) will look for its first top 25 victory when it welcomes undefeated No. 2 Texas to the Horejsi Family Athletics Center on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. The concession stand is running a Jay Days special on the day of the match in which all candy, bottled waters and hot dogs are just $2.

Fans follow live stats via Gametracker and watch live video (for a fee) on the KU Athletics website at www.KUAthletics.com.

Quick Hits

» The second-ranked Longhorns are the highest ranked opponent KU has faced since Sept. 24, 2008 when the Jayhawks took on No. 2 Nebraska in Lincoln (a 3-1 NU victory).

» This Wednesday will mark Kansas’ fourth match versus a top 25 team in its last six outings.

» KU’s loss to Iowa State on Oct. 10 was the Jayhawks’ second loss at home this season and first since Sept. 4 when Kansas fell to FIU.

» The Jayhawks have had over 1,000 fans at each of their last four home games, including a sellout on Sept. 5 vs. Creighton, the first-ever non-conference sellout in the Horejsi Center.

» Two Jayhawks recently recorded their 500th career kill. Junior Jenna Kaiser reached the milestone versus ISU on Oct. 10 while senior Brittany Williams recorded No. 500 at Nebraska on Oct. 7.

About Kansas

Riding a three-match skid, Kansas is 9-7 overall and 2-5 in the Big 12 heading into its third-straight match-up with a top 25 team. Junior Karina Garlington continues to lead the Jayhawks with the league’s fourth-best average of 3.69 kps. Sophomore Allison Mayfield follows with 3.28 kps, eighth in the Big 12. Senior Paige Mazour is hitting the league’s sixth-best attack percentage at .351. On defense, junior Melissa Manda and freshman Tayler Tolefree rank sixth and seventh in the Big 12 averaging 4.28 dps and 1.09 bps, respectively.

Scouting Texas

One of two programs still undefeated in 2009, No. 2 Texas (12-0, 7-0 Big 12) has swept six of its seven Big 12 opponents so far this year, including Oklahoma last Saturday. The Longhorns lead the conference in hitting percentage (.310) and blocks (3.21 bps). All-Americans senior Destinee Hooker and junior Juliann Faucette pace the team on offense. Hooker averages a league-best 4.68 kps, 4.91 kps in Big 12 matches, followed by Faucette’s 3.39 kps, fifth in the conference. Senior Ashley Engle, also an All-American, averages 2.10 kps on a .382 attack percentage, which ranks second in the Big 12. Defensively, two players average over one block per set in sophomore Rachel Adams (1.17 bps) and junior Jennifer Doris (1.03 bps). In the back court, senior Heather Kisner leads four Longhorns digging up over two balls per set with 4.10 dps. Head coach Jerritt Elliott is 197-62 in his ninth season at Texas.

Series Info: Texas leads the series history against Kansas 25-4. Three of the Jayhawks’ four wins have been at home. KU’s last two wins over Texas came in 2003 when the Jayhawks defeated the Longhorns both at home and away.

K-State Match Time Set

Kansas’ annual Sunflower Showdown begins Saturday, Oct. 17 at Kansas State. Match time in Manhattan has been scheduled for 1 p.m.

Tough Stretch of Schedule

KU’s match versus No. 2 Texas wraps up a three-match stretch versus ranked opponents for the Jayhawks. Kansas played No. 9 Nebraska and No. 14 ISU in its last two matches. It is the second year in a row KU has faced three-straight top 25 foes.

Tate Among National Leaders

In the most recent release of NCAA statistics on Oct. 12, sophomore Nicole Tate was listed in the nation’s top 50. The 5-10 setter’s 10.84 aps rank 32nd among Division I players. In addition, the team’s 12.56 aps is 46th nationally.

Up Next

After a two-match home stand, the Jayhawks travel to in-state rival Kansas State on Oct. 17 for a 1 p.m. match.