KU Volleyball Travels to Kansas State for Sunflower Showdown
Oct. 16, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas at Kansas State Game Notes 
Kansas volleyball (9-8, 2-6 Big 12) travels to Kansas State Saturday, Oct. 17 for this season’s first edition of the Sunflower Showdown. Match time between the Jayhawks and Wildcats is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Ahearn Field House.
Fans can follow live stats or listen to K-State’s radio broadcast (for a fee) on the KU Athletics website at www.KUAthletics.com.
About Kansas
Following three-straight matches versus top 25 teams, KU takes a 9-8 overall record and 2-6 mark in Big 12 play into Saturday’s contest. Two Jayhawks are averaging over three kills per game in Karina Garlington (3.65 kps) and Allison Mayfield (3.25), who rank fourth and ninth in the Big 12, respectively. Paige Mazour is hitting a team-best .323 attack percentage but has struggled in conference matches swinging with a .260 clip. Nicole Tate continues to guide the offense with the league’s third-best assists average of 10.77 aps. Melissa Manda holds down the KU defense with 4.20 dps. During Big 12 action, the Jayhawks’ libero is even better with 4.71 dps.
Scouting Kansas State
Kansas State snapped a seven-match losing skid last Wednesday with a win versus KU nemesis Missouri for the Wildcats’ first Big 12 victory of the season. Kansas State brings a 7-10 overall mark and 1-6 record in Big 12 play into Saturday’s match. Like Kansas, KSU has faced a daunting schedule playing four of its last six contests versus top 25 teams. JuliAnne Chisholm leads the Wildcats with 3.06 kps, while three more players contribute over two kills per set. Kelsey Chipman ranks fourth in the league with a .358 attack percentage. She is also seventh among Big 12 players blocking 1.09 balls per set. Helping on the defensive side is Lauren Mathewson, who averages 4.11 dps. KSU is coached by Suzie Fritz, who is 186-81 in her eighth season with the Wildcats.
Series Info: Kansas State has the advantage over KU leading 57-34 in the series history. At home the Jayhawks are 15-26 against the Wildcats, while posting a 9-24 record on the road. From 1989 to 1993 Kansas boasted at 10-0 record against Kansas State. KU last defeated KSU in Manhattan in 2005 winning 3-1. KSU is undefeated in its last five matches with the Jayhawks.
Bechard Approaching Milestone
Kansas head coach Ray Bechard is just one win shy of hitting 900 career victories. Bechard, who is in his 12th season at KU, is 899-228 (.798 percent) in his 25th season as a head coach. He spent 13 seasons at Barton County Community College prior to coming to Kansas, where he accumulated a 716-60 mark at the school.
Bechard-Fritz Connections
Kansas head coach Ray Bechard and Kansas State coach Suzie Fritz have a history that dates back earlier than Big 12 play. Prior to his position at KU, Bechard was the head coach at Barton Community College in Kansas for 13 seasons during which he coached Fritz and later hired her as an assistant.
Up Next
Kansas continues its road swing on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Texas Tech in a 6:30 p.m. match. The Jayhawks then return home to the Horejsi Center on Oct. 24 for the Lawrence edition of the Border Showdown with Missouri.
