KU Returns Home To Host Texas Tech
Nov. 11, 2005
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The Jayhawks look to keep their win streak alive Saturday when they host Texas Tech (11-15, 4-11 Big 12) at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. KU is 14-11 overall and 6-10 in league action and has won its last two conference matches on the road. The Red Raiders are trying to stop a five-match skid and are 0-6 on the road in Big 12 contests.
First serve in Lawrence is set for 7 p.m. The match also marks fan appreciation night. Among the many promotions, T-shirts and mini volleyballs will be thrown into the crowd throughout the match, an ultimate fan will be selected and win a $25 gift certificate to KUStore.com and the serving contest will be for prizes worth over $200.
Live streaming, Gametracker and post-match results will be available on Kansas Athletics’ official website, kuathletics.com.
KU PREVIEW
The Jayhawks return nine letterwinners including four starters in 2005. KU is led by senior middle blocker Josi Lima, a three-time All-Big 12 First Team selection who was named Sports Imports/AVCA National and Big 12 Player of the Week on Sept. 19. Postseason award candidates Paula Caten (senior) and Emily Brown (sophomore) are also in the starting six.
Lima averages 3.42 kills (.224 hitting efficiency) and a team-high 1.08 blocks per game. Freshman Savannah Noyes, at 6-3, adds 1.66 kills and 0.77 blocks per game in the other middle blocker spot.
Caten, a 6-3 outside hitter, contributes 3.20 kills and 2.23 digs per game and Brown, a 6-2 right side hitter, chips in 3.09 kills, 2.36 digs and 0.39 aces per game. Junior Megan Hill has started seven matches this season at outside hitter and adds 1.33 kills per game.
Junior libero Jamie Mathewson paces the defense and ranks ninth in the league with 3.38 digs per game.
The Jayhawks are without junior outside hitter Jana Correa, who suffered a season-ending injury against then-ranked #20 Kansas State on Oct. 5. Before the injury, Correa averaged a team-best 3.60 kills to go with 2.29 digs per game in 16 starts.
The Jayhawks are coming off 3-1 wins at Oklahoma (Wednesday) and then-ranked #24 Kansas State (Nov. 5).
THE KU/TECH SERIES
Texas Tech leads the all-time series against Kansas, 13-7. The Jayhawks have claimed four of the last five meetings against the Red Raiders, but lost (3-0) in the teams’ last meeting in Lubbock on Sept. 28.
RED RAIDER PREVIEW
Texas Tech (11-15, 4-11 Big 12) is trying to snap a five-match losing streak that dates back to an Oct. 26 loss at Oklahoma. The Red Raiders are just 3-8 on the road this season including 0-6 in league matches. Tech has not won in Lawrence since Oct. 6, 2001 (3-2).
Tech is led by junior transfer Philister Sang (Nairobi, Kenya/Indian Hills C.C.), a Big 12 Newcomer of the Year candidate who averages 4.40 kills and 2.30 digs per game. The 6-3 outside hitter is joined by sophomore middle blocker Amy Charlebois (2.51 kpg) and junior outside hitter Kiley Lions (1.96 kpg) as the offensive leaders. Tech utilizes two setters in its rotation — sophomore Emily Ziegler and freshman Holly Hicks, who average 7.62 and 4.87 assists per game, respectively.
LAST MEETING — TEXAS TECH 3, KANSAS 0
KU dropped a three-game match to Texas Tech at United Spirit Arena Sept. 28, 30-28, 30-25 and 30-19. With her 11 kills, Josi Lima became the Jayhawks’ all-time leading kills leader with 1,308 for her career.
Lima, who also had six digs, broke Sarah Rome’s career mark of 1,306, set during the 2003 season. Paula Caten led KU with 15 kills on a .290 hitting efficiency and Jana Correa added eight kills and 10 digs in the effort. Jamie Mathewson posted 13 digs to lead the KU defense and Emily Brown added 10 digs and four total blocks. Andi Rozum ran the offense with 37 assists.
KU hit a season-low .075 in the match, committing 34 attack errors. The Red Raiders, who hit .174 on the night, had 40 kills and 19 errors in the win. Philister Sang led Tech with 10 kills and posted 10 digs.
Match Notes in PDF Format
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