Volleyball Senior Day Set For 11 a.m. Saturday

Nov. 16, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

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<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas volleyball (12-16, 5-13 Big 12) returns home this weekend for its final home match of the 2007 season. KU will play host to IowaState (15-12, 9-8) on its senior day. Seniors Emily Brown and Caitlin Mahoney will be honored following the match.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Jayhawks At A Glance

Kansas has gone 2-2 in its last four conference matches, recently falling in four games to No. 12 Kansas State Wednesday night. The Jayhawks’ offense currently has five players contributing over two kills a game. Freshman Jenna Kaiser leads the pack with 2.99 kpg followed by Emily Brown with 2.65, Natalie Uhart with 2.60 and Karina Garlington and Savannah Noyes with 2.13 and 2.01 kpg, respectively. After missing the first four games of conference play, Uhart has since gone on to record a team-high .287 hitting accuracy in Big 12 matches and also leads the team with 1.13 blocks per game. In the back court, Melissa Manda leads with 3.99 digs per game with help from Katie Martincich who adds 2.62 dpg.

Scouting IowaState

Iowa State is currently riding a two-match losing streak falling to No. 2 Nebraska last weekend and dropping a four-game contest to Missouri in its most recent match. Since opening conference season with a 5-1 mark, the Cyclones have struggled near the home stretch winning just two contests in the last six Big 12 matches. ISU leads the conference during league play in digs (18.33 dpg) and is second in blocks (3.23 bpg). Ashley Mass averages 5.03 dpg in conference play to lead the Cyclones, while Erin Boeve leads the Big 12 with 1.65 blocks per game and paces the ISU offense with 3.62 kpg. Lauren Cummings adds 3.52 kpg along with 1.10 bpg.

The Series

Iowa State leads the all-time series with the Jayhawks 38-32-1 and has claimed the last five meetings. The last time KU defeated the Cyclones was on Oct. 27, 2004 in Lawrence.

Last Meeting With the Cyclones

A balanced IowaState volleyball team defeated the University of Kansas 3-0 on Oct. 13 earlier this season at the Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones used a .378 attack percentage to top the Jayhawks 30-24, 30-25 and 30-19. Senior Emily Brown led Kansas with nine kills and 21 assists. Junior Natalie Uhart pitched in seven kills, while junior Savannah Noyes and freshman Karina Garlington each notched six.

KU’s Last Time Out

Wednesday’s match looked promising for the Kansas volleyball team as the Jayhawks posted a quick 30-21 win in game one over 12th ranked KansasState. However, K-State came back to win the final three games (30-26, 30-14, 30-26) to post a 3-1 win over the Jayhawks.

Three Jayhawks tallied double figure kills in the effort led by junior Savannah Noyes with 14, just one shy of her season high, on a .400 hitting efficiency. Freshmen Jenna Kaiser and Karina Garlington followed with 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Garlington also added 10 digs for the second double-double of her career. Defensively, freshman Melissa Manda dug up a team best 17 balls. Sophomore Katie Martincich added 11 digs along with 26 assists for a double-double. Junior Natalie Uhart led the team with six total blocks and also pitched in nine kills.

Brown Makes KU History

Emily Brown made Kansas volleyball history at Colorado on Nov. 10 when the Baldwin City, Kan., native recorded her 1,000th career dig and 1,000 career assist to become the first player in KU volleyball history to reach the 1,000 mark in career kills, digs and assists. Brown tallied her 1,000th kill against Texas Tech on Sept. 22. The 6-2 hitter/setter became just the third player at Kansas to reach the 1,000 plateau in both digs and kills, and the first since Sarah Rome who played for Kansas from 2000-03. The other player who reached 1,000 digs and kills was Cyndee Kanabel (1990-93).

Senior Notables

Besides making KU history as the only player to reach the 1,000 mark in career kills, assists and digs, Emily Brown will also leave her name on five career record lists including kills (6th–1,143), attempts (6th–2,998), assists (10th–1,052), digs(7th–1,008) and games played (7th–422). She has started all 422 games of her career and is the only Jayhawk to start and play all 105 games so far this year. Brown currently leads the team with 691 assists, 24 service aces and 309.5 points. This versatile player is also third on the team with 2.38 kills per game, 2.28 digs per game and 0.63 blocks per game. Brown was recently named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Third Team for the second consecutive year.

Teammate Caitlin Mahoney will also be making her final home appearance in a Jayhawks uniform. Mahoney had a break out senior campaign playing in 25 matches and starting 15 for KU. The 6-1 middle blocker/right side hitter was crucial for the team stepping in for the sidelined Natalie Uhart through the month of September. During her senior season, Mahoney established new single-match career marks in kills, block assists, digs and service aces. This year, Mahoney was named to the Jayhawk Classic All-Tournament Team and was a member of the Big 12 Fall Sports Good Works Team. The St. Louis, Mo., native is currently third on the team with 0.91 blocks per game and also adds 1.32 kills per game.

Brown and Mahoney were also members of the 2004 and 2005 Kansas volleyball teams that made post-season appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Follow the Jayhawks

Fans can follow live stats of Saturday’s match kuathletics.com. A subscrition based video service is also available at kuathletics.com/allaccess.

Up Next

The Jayhawks play their final match of the 2007 season this Wednesday, Nov. 21 at Texas Tech. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.