Homestand continues for Kansas with No. 23 Baylor
LAWRENCE, Kan. – A six-match winning streak propels the Kansas volleyball team into a Saturday bout against No. 23 Baylor inside Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
The October 6 contest marks the 48th time in the history of the two programs that the Jayhawks (10-4, 3-0 Big 12) and the Bears (10-5, 2-2 Big 12) will meet. KU has won nine of the last 10 meetings, with the lone loss coming in the second game of the series a year ago (Nov. 11, 2017).
Fans can watch the game live on the Jayhawk Television Network and ESPN+ with Leif Lisec and Jill Dorsey-Hall on the call, or tune into a live audio broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network with Jackson Schneider calling the action.
QUICK HITS
- Kansas enters the week with a 10-4 record overall and 3-0 record during Big 12 play as winners of six-straight matches.
- No. 23 Baylor has a 10-5 record overall and a 2-2 mark during Big 12 play under Ryan McGuyre, in his fourth year as head coach.
- The Jayhawks and Bears meet for the 48th time on Saturday. The two teams split the season series a year ago after KU had won the previous nine meetings. Kansas holds a mark of 9-1 in the last 10 contests played against BU.
- Kansas battled back from a 2-0 set deficit Wednesday night to defeat West Virginia, 3-2. Down 23-22 in the third set, the Jayhawks went on to outscore the Mountaineers 43-16 down the stretch for the win.
- Junior middle blocker Zoe Hill turned in a career-high 11-block performance, including 10 in the final three sets of the match.
- The five-set victory marks the fifth such win on the season as KU holds a record of 5-2 in seven five-set matches played.
- Freshman middle blocker Rachel Langs earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors on Monday (Oct. 1) after finishing one block shy of the Big 12 record of 15 total blocks in a five-set match against Oklahoma (Sept. 26).
- Langs added 10 kills in that match for the rare kill-block double-double that has only happened 16 times in Kansas history.
- Langs‘ honor is the second in as many weeks for the Jayhawks as junior Zoe Hill earned the same distinction a week ago (Sept. 24).
- Kansas is in the midst of an 11-match stretch in its schedule that features 10 home contests. Saturday’s will be KU’s second of four home matches during the month of October.
- The Jayhawks posted a 6-2 mark in the first eight matches of that span 11-game with their last home victory coming on Oct. 3 against West Virginia.
- KU features one of the best defenses in the conference, leading the Big 12 in blocks per set (2.92) and ranking second in opponent hitting percentage (.164).
MEET THE JAYHAWKS
- Junior outside hitter Jada Burse leads Kansas in total points (201.0), averaging 3.08 kills per set and 0.59 blocks per set this season.
- Junior outside hitter Ashley Smith has nearly-identical numbers as Burse, averaging career-bests of 2.78 kills per set and 0.48 blocks per set this season.
- Freshman Camryn Ennis has started the last 11 matches as KU’s setter, averaging team bests of 6.59 assists per set and 0.20 aces per set. The San Antonio native has reached eight assist-dig double-doubles in her 12 matches played as a Jayhawk.
- Junior Allie Nelson and freshman Lacey Angello have split time as KU’s starting libero. Nelson leads KU in digs per set (3.08) with Angello not far behind at 2.87 digs per set.
- Freshman middle blocker Rachel Langs has started the last six matches and is coming off a double-double and a career-high game against Oklahoma last Wednesday (Sept. 26), recording a career-high 10 kills on a .350 hitting percentage and a career-high 14 blocks. She earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors (Oct. 1) for that performance.
- Junior outside hitter Patricia Montero will undergo 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.
LAST TIME OUT
- Junior middle blocker Zoe HIll posted a career-high 11 blocks against West Virginia (Oct. 3).
- Kansas outscored the Mountaineers 43-16 down the stretch to come back from a 2-0 set deficit and win its sixth-straight match.
UP NEXT
KU continues its three-game Big 12 homestand with Texas on Wednesday., Oct. 10 at 8 p.m., at Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
FOLLOW
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