KU to host K-State in Dillons Sunflower Showdown

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas volleyball returns to Horejsi Family Athletics Center for the second-to-last time this season, and hosts in-state rival Kansas State Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6: 30 p.m. in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown.
 
Each team looks to rebound after suffering a loss in their last match with KU aiming to right the ship after falling at No. 5 Texas, 1-3, on Saturday, Nov. 10. In the matchup between the Jayhawks and Longhorns, KU tallied more kills (58/54), blocks (10.0/5.0) and assists (54/49) than Texas, but ultimately fell the UT, who won the final two sets after the match was split at one set each.
 
The trio of Jada Burse, Zoe Hill and Ashley Smith continue to lead the Kansas attack with Burse averaging a team-high 3.54 kills per set, including 19 kills against Texas on Nov. 10.
 
Hill turned in one of her most efficient performances of the season against UT, finish with a .444 hitting clip with 14 kills on 27 attempts and only two errors. Smith also finished with 13 kills, while Gabby Simpson tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 45 assists and 10 digs.
 
Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ or tune into the audio broadcast on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/Radio with Jackson Schneider calling the action.

*ESPN+ is a streaming service offered by ESPN. The service is $4.99 and offers a range of live content, including Kansas Athletic sporting events.
 
QUICK HITS
• Kansas enters Wednesday’s match with a 15-8 overall record and a 8-4 mark in Big 12 play, falling to No. 5 Texas in its last outing Nov. 10, 2018 in Austin, Texas.
• Kansas State enters with a 13-11 record and is eighth in the Big 12 standings with a 3-10 mark in conference play.
• Saturday’s match will mark the 109th contest between KU and K-State
• The Jayhawks set a new three-set match record posting 16.5 blocks against the Red Raiders on Oct. 13, 2018.
• KU earned a nine-match win streak that spanned more than a month from Sept. 14 – Oct. 16.
 
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

Gabby Simpson, Allie Nelson named to All-Big 12 Academic teams.

Find out more here ??

??: https://t.co/cv6ZVhnw5k #KUvball pic.twitter.com/zAcUmcoFe4

— Kansas Volleyball (@KUVolleyball) November 13, 2018

#KUvball returns to Horejsi Family Athletic Center to take on @KStateVB Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 PM in the @dillonsgrocery Sunflower Showdown! pic.twitter.com/iwGeo1r7QH

— Kansas Volleyball (@KUVolleyball) November 12, 2018

LAST TIME vs K-State
• In the last matchup between KU and K-State, the Wildcats defeated the Jayhawks, 3-1, in Manhattan, Kansas. Kansas was ranked No. 22 when in-state rivals last played on Oct. 17. 
Three Jayhawks finished with double-figure kills and were led by Jada Burse’s 17. Ashley Smith (12) and Zoe Hill (10) also finished in double digits, while Camryn Ennis finished with a 25 assists and 13 digs for her last double-double of the season.
 
Player Spotlight
• Langs holds the top spot in the Big 12 in blocks per set (1.43) with a total of 103 on the season.
• Also appearing on the Big 12’s top 10 list is Hill, who averages 1.24 blocks per set for fifth and is tied for third with 112 total blocks.
• Hill’s 11-block performance against West Virginia (Oct. 3) was just the second time in her career she reached double figures in blocks with her last coming on Oct. 25, 2017 against Oklahoma (10.0).
• Junior outside hitter Jada Burse leads Kansas with 355.5 total points and 3.54 kills per set, which rank eight and sixth, respectively, in the Big 12.
• Freshman Camryn Ennis has started 18 matches, averaging team highs in assists per set (5.71) and aces per set (0.22). The San Antonio native has reached 10 assist-dig double-doubles in her 19 matches played as a Jayhawk.
• Junior Allie Nelson leads KU in digs per set (3.637) which is good for sixth in the Big 12.
 
BLOCK PARTY
• Langs and KSU’s Macy Flowers rank first and second, respectively, in the Big 12 in blocks per set. Langs averages 1.43, while Flowers is a close second with 1.40.
 
ALL ACADEMIC
• Simpson (First) and Nelson (Second) were named to the 2018 Academic All-Big 12 Volleyball Teams on Nov. 13. Simpson received previous accolades at Colorado, where she was named All-Pac 12 Academic Honorable Mention in 2015 and 2016.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Jayhawks fell to No. 5 Texas in Austin, Texas, ending a two-match winning streak. The loss split the season series between Texas and KU with the Jayhawks earning a victory over then-No. 4 Texas on Oct. 10, 2018.

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