Kansas Returns Home to Host Colorado

Nov. 7, 2006

LAWRENCE, KAN. –

Kansas volleyball returns to the friendly confines of the Horejsi Family Athletics Center Wednesday night to host Colorado in Big 12 Conference action. First serve in Lawrence is set for 7 p.m. The Jayhawks (10-14, 3-12 Big 12) are looking for their sixth home win of the season against the Buffs (13-9, 9-6), who are 4-3 in league road matches this year. All fans wearing blue to the match will receive free popcorn. Live Gametracker and web video streaming, a recap and box score for the match can be found here.

About the Jayhawks
The Jayhawks (10-14, 3-12) are averaging 15.88 kills and 14.74 assists per game, which ranks fourth in the Big 12. Senior outside hitter Jana Correa paces a balanced KU offense with 3.93 kills per game — good for seventh in the league — and has recorded 14 or more kills in 16 matches this season. This season, Correa became the ninth Jayhawk in school history to record 1,000 kills for her career and currently ranks seventh on the KU all-time list. Junior right side hitter Emily Brown (3.45 kpg/2.95 dpg), a threat in all six rotations, and sophomore middle blocker Savannah Noyes (3.26 kpg) round out the top KU hitters. Redshirt freshman setter Katie Martincich averages 11.95 assists per game, which ranks eighth in the league. KU’s defense features senior libero Jamie Mathewson (3.64 dpg) and five Jayhawks who average 2.21 or more digs per game. KU also gets a boost from rookie middle blocker Brittany Williams (2.38 kpg), who replaced injured Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Natalie Uhart in the starting lineup.

Scouting the Buffs
Colorado (13-9, 9-6) has won four of its last six matches and is coming off a 3-1 loss at then-ranked No. 21 Missouri Saturday night. The Buffs are currently tied for sixth with the Tigers in the Big 12 standings. CU ranks fifth in the league in kills (15.73), assists (14.71) and service aces (1.48) per game, but is 10th in blocking (2.26 bpg) and 11th in opponent hitting percentage (.231). Junior outside hitter Amber Sutherland leads CU with 4.39 kills per game, which is good for third in the league. Sophomore outside hitter Mallori Gibson adds 3.15 kpg and is averaging a team-best 0.29 aces per game. Senior setter Ashley Nu’u dishes 12.32 assists per game, which ranks fifth in the Big 12. Junior libero Kristen Karlik leads the Buffs’ defense with 4.04 digs per game (sixth in the league).

The Kansas-Colorado Series
The Buffs lead the all-times series against KU, 32-9, but the Jayhawks have won five of the last nine meetings. Seven of KU’s nine wins over Colorado have come in the Ray Bechard era (1998-present), dating back to the 2000 season. The Buffs claimed the teams’ first meeting of the season, 3-2, in Boulder on Sept. 23.

Martincich reaches 1,000-Assist Milestone
With her 34 assists against Iowa State Saturday night, redshirt freshman setter Katie Martincich recorded her 1,000th kill in a Jayhawk uniform and is now just 71 assists away from a spot on the Kansas single-season records list. The Shawnee, Kan., native is already averaging 11.95 assists per game as a rookie, which ranks seventh all-time among Jayhawk setters. Martincich is following closely in the footsteps of former Jayhawk setter Andi Rozum (2002-05), who topped all rookie setters with 1,179 assists and averaged 12.03 per game as a freshman in 2002.

Another Sellout…
The Kansas-Nebraska match on Wednesday, Nov. 22, in Lawrence is sold out of reserved tickets. Based on availability, general admission tickets may be available for purchase beginning at 6:30 p.m. on game day at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center ticket office for $10 each.

Match Notes in PDF Format
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