Kansas Hosts Missouri In Border Showdown Saturday

Oct. 23, 2009

Kansas vs. Missouri Game Notes Get Acrobat Reader

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

In its first of three-straight home contests, the University of Kansas volleyball team will host the Lawrence edition of the Border Showdown on Saturday, Oct. 24 when it welcomes Missouri in a 7:30 p.m. match. Fans that bring their ticket stub from Saturday’s KU-Oklahoma football game can get into the volleyball match for $3.

Free live stats as well as a webstreaming of the event (for a fee) will be available on the KU Athletics website at www.KUAthletics.com.

Quick Hits

» Following back-to-back sweeps at Kansas State and Texas Tech, Kansas recorded its first consecutive Big 12 Conference road sweeps in program history.

» Kansas head coach Ray Bechard recorded career victory No. 900 with the team’s win at Kansas State on Oct. 17.

» KU’s victory versus the Wildcats also gave the Jayhawks their first conference road win of the 2009 season and snapped a four-match skid.

» Kansas had its most accurate Big 12 outing of the season at K-State with a .312 attack percentage during the contest.

About Kansas

Coming off back-to-back Big 12 road sweeps for the first time in program history, KU is 11-8 overall and 4-6 in the Big 12 heading into the second half of conference play. Two Jayhawks are averaging over three kills per game in Karina Garlington (3.52 kps) and Allison Mayfield (3.39), who rank fifth and seventh in the Big 12, respectively. Mayfield has averaged a team-high 3.62 kps in Big 12 matches. Paige Mazour is hitting a team-high .330 attack percentage, seventh among conference players. Nicole Tate continues to guide the offense with the league’s third-best assists average of 10.92 aps. Melissa Manda holds down the KU defense with 4.24 dps. During Big 12 action, the Jayhawks’ libero is even better with 4.71 dps. Freshman Tayler Tolefree is averaging just over a block per set with 1.04.

Scouting Missouri

After falling to No. 2 Texas in its last outing, Missouri brings a 12-9 overall record and 4-6 conference mark to Lawrence. The Tigers are riding a three-match skid and have gone 0-4 on the road in Big 12 play this season. Two players average over three kills per game led by junior Julianna Klein, who is 10th in the Big 12 with 3.22 kps. During conference matches, junior Paola Ampudia has paced the team with 3.73 kps. Missouri leads the Big 12 with 1.34 aces per set as three Tigers are listed in the league’s top 10 led by junior Caitlyn Vann, who is fifth in the conference with 0.28 aces per set. Vann also leads the team in the back court digging up 4.45 dps, fourth in the Big 12. Junior Catie Wilson, who is hitting a team-high .319 attack percentage, also paces the Tigers with 0.84 bps. Wayne Kreklow is 85-57 in his fifth season as head coach at Missouri.

Series Info: Missouri leads the all-time series with Kansas, 48-32. The teams are tied at 16 wins a piece in Lawrence. KU is 5-8 against the Tigers in Big 12 play at home and won the last match up at the Horejsi Center in 2008.

Jayhawks For a Cure

Kansas volleyball will participate in the 2009-10 “Jayhawks For a Cure” campaign on Tuesday, Oct. 27 when it hosts UMKC for a 6:30 p.m. match. Fans wearing pink to the contest will be admitted for just $3.

Fans can make a donation at the door with all donations benefitting Lawrence Memorial Hospital and the KU Cancer Center. Fans can also choose to make a pledge per dig by filling out a pledge form found on the KU volleyball website at www.KUAthletics.com. In addition, Kansas Athletics’ new concessions partner, Centerplate, will donate $1 for every soft drink purchased during the match.

Along with Kansas volleyball’s match on Tuesday, several “Jayhawks For a Cure” events are scheduled for the 2009-10 academic year. The KU soccer team held its event on Oct. 11, while Kansas swimming and diving will highlight breast cancer awareness and collect donations on Oct. 30 when it hosts Missouri. Kansas women’s basketball will also host its annual WBCA Pink Zone game in Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 7 when it faces Kansas State.

Home Sweet Home

Kansas will play seven of its last 11 matches of the 2009 season at home in the friendly confines of the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The Jayhawks play well in the Horejsi Center as the team is 92-61 since the building opened for the 1999 season.

Up Next

Kansas continues its homestand into next week when it hosts UMKC Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the “Jayhawks For a Cure” match. KU then welcomes Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 31.