Jayhawks Take Two Big 12 Honors for Second Time
Oct. 22, 2012
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Prior to the 2012 season, the Kansas volleyball team had never before received multiple Big 12 Conference weekly awards. In a six-week span, the Jayhawks have now pulled off the feat twice, with the most recent duo being Sara McClinton and Caroline Jarmoc, who were named the Big 12 Offense and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Oct. 22.
Ranked 21st in the country, Kansas (19-3, 7-1) extended its school-record of home wins in a season to 12-straight over the weekend. With the help of McClinton and Jarmoc, the Jayhawks knocked off No. 14 Kansas State and TCU to finish the first half of the conference season at a program-best 7-1.
This marks the fourth Big 12 weekly honor for Jarmoc, the first for McClinton and gives Kansas six for the season – doubling the Jayhawks’ previous season-high of three. Coupled with junior libero Brianne Riley’s Defensive Player of the Week honor on Oct. 15, this is also the first time the Jayhawks have won in back-to-back weeks.
“It’s always great to see our players being recognized,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “I like that it also means we’re doing things well as a team. (Caroline) Jarmoc is doing what we’ve asked her to step up and do, but even so, 12 blocks in a match is a big number. Sara McClinton continues to improve and is playing at very high level right now, but it’s also a testament to how well their teammates are playing around them.”
Kansas and Kansas State faced each other as ranked teams for the first time in the long history between the rivals and McClinton was brilliant. The sophomore cranked out 19 kills and only one error for a career-best .545 attack percentage to help Kansas rack up its second win against a top-25 team this season. She was just as effective against TCU, drilling 17 kills on 35 swings and only three errors for a .400 hitting efficiency.
For the week, McClinton averaged a team-best 4.50 kills per set, collecting 36 kills and only four errors. For the season, she ranks fifth in the conference in kills per set (3.36).
Jarmoc was unstoppable both offensively and defensively to guide Kansas to victory, posting back-to-back career-high matches against No. 14 Kansas State and TCU.
Against Kansas State, Jarmoc shined at the net. The redshirt junior middle blocker posted a career-high 12 blocks en route to her first career double-double (11 kills/12 blocks) as KU out-blocked the Wildcats, 18-5.
Facing TCU, in the Horned Frogs’ first visit to Lawrence as members of the Big 12, Jarmoc put up four more blocks but it was her offense that put the match away. The Calgary, Alberta native drilled 23 kills – eight in the fourth set alone – for a new career high.
Jarmoc finished the week with 34 kills (4.25 kps) and 16 blocks (2.00 bps). For the season, she regained the Big 12 lead in attack percentage (.396) and is fourth in the league in blocks per set (1.34).
UP NEXT
No. 21 Kansas hits the road again to start the second half of the conference season, traveling to Ames, Iowa to face No. 22 Iowa State. First serve on Wednesday, Oct. 24 is set for 6:30 p.m.
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