Kansas to face West Virginia

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas volleyball team concludes its two-game road swing when it takes on West Virginia, Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 5:30 p.m. (CT) inside the WVU Coliseum.

The Jayhawks (13-7, 6-3 Big 12) enter the match in second place in the Big 12 and face a WVU (10-12, 2-7 Big 12) squad that ended a three-match losing streak with a victory over Texas Tech (3-1) on Oct. 24.

Fans can watch the game live on MountaineerTV, or tune into the audio broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio with Jackson Schneider calling the action.

QUICK HITS

  • Kansas enters Wednesday’s match with a 13-7 overall record and a 6-3 mark during Big 12 play, having lost its last three-straight contests.
  • West Virginia enters with a 10-12 record and a 2-7 mark in conference play.
  • Wednesday’s match will mark the 16th contest between KU and WVU.
  • The Jayhawks maintained their hold on second in the Big 12 Conference standings despite loses to Kansas State on Wednesday (Oct. 17) in four sets, Iowa State (Oct. 20) in three sets and Baylor (Oct. 27) in three sets.
  • Those losses came on the heels of a nine-match winning streak that spanned more than a month from Sept. 14 – Oct. 16.
  • Kansas defeated West Virginia on Oct. 3, 3-2 in Lawrence.
  • Kansas ranks first in the Big 12 Conference and fifth in the nation in blocks per set, averaging 2.93.
  • The Jayhawks also own the top mark in the league in total blocks (237.5), which also ranks 19th nationally.
  • KU’s 237.5 blocks is the fourth-most out of all Power Five schools.
  • Out of 19 matches played, Kansas has logged double-digit blocks in all but six, which was comprised of a 10-match streak.
  • The .175 hitting percentage Kansas has held its opponents to is also tops the conference, with the next closest being Texas Tech at .183.
  • Kansas earned its first three-set conference sweep since Oct. 21, 2017, when it defeated Texas Tech, 3-0, Saturday (Oct. 13).
  • That sweep also marked the first sweep in a true road contest since Oct. 18, 2017, when the Jayhawks took three-straight at then-No. 23 Baylor.
  • The Jayhawks set a new three-set match record posting 16.5 blocks against the Red Raiders.
  • KU defeated its second-straight top-25 opponent of the season when it downed No. 4 Texas (Oct. 10) (3-1). Previously, the Jayhawks defeated then-No. 23 Baylor (Oct. 6) in four sets, 3-1.
  • That win marked the first time in school history KU had defeated a top-five Texas team and was just the sixth victory over the Longhorns in 48 meetings.
  • The Jayhawks’ 6-0 start to conference play marked the second time since 2015 that Kansas started league play 6-0. KU began 2015 Big 12 play 7-0.

PLAYER NOTES

  • The Jayhawks’ 6-0 start to conference play marked the second time since 2015 that Kansas started league play 6-0. KU began 2015 Big 12 play 7-0.
  • KU’s Ashley Smith recorded the highest hitting percentage (.533) by an individual against the Longhorns (Oct. 10) with a minimum of 15 kills.
  • Jada Burse tallied the second-most kills (22) allowed by the Longhorns this season.
  • The Jayhawks had four-consecutive Big 12 weekly honors spanning Sept. 24-Oct. 15 – Zoe Hill twice and Rachel Langs twice.
  • Rachel Langs is 14th in the nation in blocks per set (1.45), which is second in the Big 12
  • Junior middle blocker Zoe Hill ranks fourth in the Big 12 Conference and 64tt nationally in total blocks, recording 101 stuffs at the net.
  • Hill’s 11-block performance against West Virginia (Oct. 3) is just the second time in her career she reached double figures with her last coming on Oct. 25, 2017 against Oklahoma (10.0).
  • Hill ranks right behind Langs in blocks per set with a 1.29 mark, good for third in the Big 12 and 34th nationally.
  • Junior outside hitter Jada Burse leads Kansas in total points (292.0), averaging 3.34 kills per set.
  • Freshman Camryn Ennis started 16 matches as KU’s setter, averaging team bests of 6.52 assists per set and 0.21 aces per set. The San Antonio native has reached 10 assist-dig double-doubles in her 16 matches played as a Jayhawk, but was out of the lineup due to injury against Baylor Oct. 27.
  • Junior Allie Nelson and freshman Lacey Angello have split time as KU’s starting libero. Nelson leads KU in digs per set (3.49) with Angello not far behind at 2.65 digs per set.
  • Junior outside hitter Patricia Montero underwent season-ending surgery to mend an injury incurred on Aug. 31 against Dayton. Montero, a six-rotation player, led the Jayhawks in kills per set (3.62) and points per set (4.04) at the time of her injury.
  • In the last matchup between KU and WVU on Oct. 3, 2018, Burse paced the Jayhawks with 17 kills, while Smith was a close second (16). Hill notched a career-high 11 blocks

 
LAST TIME OUT
The Jayhawks suffered their third-straight loss when they were swept by Baylor (Oct. 27) inside the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.

UP NEXT
KU returns home following two road contests against Baylor and West Virginia. The Jayhawks host Texas Tech for their annual Salute to Service match, Saturday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
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