MATCH PREVIEW: vs West Virginia
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas welcomes West Virginia for a midweek Big 12 clash in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena Thursday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Both KU and WVU enter the match with 0-3 records in Big 12 play with the Jayhawks recently falling in four sets to Oklahoma. WVU has Big 12 loses to Iowa State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
Kansas is led offensively by seniors Ashley Smith and Zoe Hill, who each average 2.30 kills per set and have 101 kills this season. Sophomore Rachel Langs holds the highest attack percentage .240) and is second on the team in blocks per set (1.10).
Sara Nielsen continues her work as the Kansas’ setter, earning her third double-double performance of the season at Oklahoma (32 assists, 12 digs). Nielsen averages 8.89 assists per set and is second on the team in digs per set (1.93 D/S).
Allie Nelson leads the back-row defense with 162 digs this season and is sixth in the Big 12 in digs per set (3.68). The duo of Langs and Kailea Carrier anchor the second best blocking team in the Big 12, with Carrier boasting a team-high 1.12 blocks per set (29 total).
Fans can watch the match on ESPN+ // Big 12 Now or listen on the Jayhawk Radio Network with Nick Springer calling the action.
MATCH INFORMATION
| Date/Time: | October 10 / 6:30 p.m. |
| Opponent | West Virginia |
| Location | Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena |
| Watch | ESPN+ // Big 12 Now |
| Listen | Jayhawk Radio Network |
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
- Junior setter Sara Nielsen logged her third double-double of the season against Oklahoma Oct. 5, netting 32 assists and 10 digs. The junior from Glen Ellyn, Illinois also earned double-doubles against South Carolina (42 assists, 11 digs) and at UNLV (41 assists, 11 digs).
NELSON CAREER DIGS
- Allie Nelson continues her climb through the Kansas record book, the senior from Chicago, Illinois has 1,090 career digs and is 10th in program history. Nelson has led KU in digs the previous two seasons.
OPPONENT PREVIEW: WEST VIRGINIA
- West Virginia enters the contest against Kansas with an 8-7 record and losses in its last three matches against Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Iowa State.
- The Mountaineer attack is led by Kristina Jordan, who averages a team-high 3.29 kills per set (171 total) and 3.96 points per set (206.0). Kristin Lux (132 kills) and Briana Lynch (112 kills) are the only other players with 100-or-more kills this season. Lacey Zerwas is the team leader in assists (541) and averages 10.02 assists per set.
- Three Mountaineers have amassed over 100 digs this season with Alex Hasting leading the way with 233 digs (4.32 D/S). Audrey Adams anchors the WVU defense and is the team leader in blocks (50) and blocks per set (0.96).
2018 SERIES RECAP
- Kansas swept the 2018 series against West Virginia, beating the Mountaineers twice in October last season.
- In the first showdown on Oct. 3, 2018. KU dropped the first two sets and rallied to capture the final three. The Jayhawks held the WVU attack to 16 points in the final two sets.
- The final showdown vs. WVU was another back-and-forth battle, with each side split after the first two sets. KU rallied back to capture the third set, 30-28, before winning the set and the match.
BIG 12 STATISTICS (10/7/2019)
- Kansas ranks second in the Big 12 in blocks per set (2.50) and has 110 blocks this season.
- Kailea Carrier (29 | 1.12 blocks per set) ranks sixth in Big 12 play in blocks per set, while Rachel Langs (33 | 1.10 blocks per set) is seventh in the rankings.
- Allie Nelson is sixth in the Big 12 in digs per set (3.68) and has 162 digs this season.
