Kansas Hosts Mizzou in Border Showdown
Nov. 17, 2006
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
With just three regular-season matches remaining, Kansas volleyball hosts Border Showdown rival Missouri Saturday night in the friendly confines of the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. First serve is set for 7 p.m. The Jayhawks (10-16, 3-14 Big 12) are looking to get back into the win column while the Tigers (15-11, 9-8) are trying to stop a two-match skid of their own. Live Gametracker and video web streaming, a recap and box score for the match can be found right here.
About the Jayhawks
The Jayhawks (10-16, 3-14) are averaging 15.59 kills and 14.42 assists per game, which ranks sixth in the Big 12. Senior outside hitter Jana Correa paces a balanced KU offense with 3.85 kills per game — good for ninth 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 (3.47 kpg/2.89 dpg), a threat in all six rotations, and sophomore middle blocker Savannah Noyes (3.25 kpg) round out the top KU hitters. Redshirt freshman setter Katie Martincich averages 11.66 assists per game, which ranks eighth in the league. KU’s defense features senior libero Jamie Mathewson (3.60 dpg) and five Jayhawks who average 2.24 or more digs per game. KU also gets a boost from rookie middle blocker Brittany Williams (2.360 kpg), who replaced injured Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Natalie Uhart in the starting lineup.
Scouting the Tigers
Missouri (15-11, 9-8 Big 12), unranked this week for the first time in 2006, is coming off tough losses to No. 8 Texas (3-1) and No. 14 Oklahoma (3-2) last week. The Tigers, currently sixth in the league standings, are 4-5 on the road this season, including 3-5 in Big 12 road contests. MU is led by senior outside hitter Jessica Vander Kooi, who ranks sixth in the league with 4.13 kills per game to go with 3.29 digs and a team-best 0.97 blocks per game. Senior middle blocker Nicole Wilson adds 3.42 kills and junior outside hitter Na Yang adds 2.99 per game in the offensive effort. Freshman setter Lei Wang averages 12.34 assists per game (sixth in the Big 12) and junior libero Tatum Ailes leads the squad and ranks third in the league with 4.79 digs per game. The Tigers rank seventh in the league in hitting percentage (.223), assists (14.30) and blocks (2.71) per game among their Big 12 foes.
The Kansas-Missouri Series
The Tigers lead the all-time series against the Jayhawks, 43-31, and have won the last five match-ups with KU. Kansas last defeated Mizzou, 3-2, on Nov. 5, 2003 in Lawrence.
Border Showdown Facts
The Jayhawks and Tigers are currently tied at 4-4 in the 2006-07 Border Showdown standings. Kansas claimed the 2005-06 Border Showdown, 23-17.
Sold Out
The Kansas-Missouri volleyball match on Saturday, Nov. 18 and the Kansas-Nebraska match on Wednesday, Nov. 22 are SOLD OUT of reserved tickets. Based on availability, a very limited number of 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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