No. 22 Jayhawks head to in-state rival K-State

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 22-ranked Kansas volleyball team takes its undefeated Big 12 record to Manhattan, Kansas for the first of two Dillons Sunflower Showdown matches against the Wildcats, Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m.

The Jayhawks (13-4, 6-0 Big 12) are riding a nine-match winning streak and enter Wednesday’s matchup having won the last seven-straight contests against K-State (10-7, 0-6 Big 12), including the last six in Manhattan.

Fans can watch the game live on ESPNU, 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 the week with a 13-4 record overall and 6-0 record during Big 12 play as winners of nine-straight matches.
  • Kansas State enters with a 10-7 record and an 0-6 mark in conference play.
  • The Jayhawks and Wildcats meet for the 108th time on Wednesday. Kansas has won the last seven contests against Kansas State with its last loss coming on Oct. 1, 2014 (3-2).
  • 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.
  • The 16.5 blocks also pushes KU’s block per set number over three, rounding out at 3.04 – that ranks the squad No. 4 in the country.
  • 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’ undefeated conference record marks the first time since 2015 that Kansas has started league play 6-0. KU began 2015 Big 12 play 7-0.
  • Out of 17 matches played, Kansas has logged double-digit blocks in all but four, which was comprised of a nine-match streak.
  • Kansas currently owns two top-10 national rankings in defensive categories with a No. 4 ranking in blocks per set (3.04) and No. 7 in total blocks (215.5).
  • KU’s Ashley Smith recorded the highest hitting percentage by an individual against the Longhorns (.533) with a minimum of 15 kills.
  • Jada Burse tallied the second-most kills (22) allowed by the Longhorns this season.
  • The Jayhawks have had four-consecutive Big 12 weekly honors – Zoe Hill twice and Rachel Langs twice.
  • Reigning Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Oct. 15) Rachel Langs is ninth in the nation in blocks per set (1.52).
  • Kansas is in the midst of a stretch of Big 12 play where it will play four of its five matches on the road, including at in-state rival Kansas State in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown (Oct. 17).

PLAYER NOTES

  • Junior middle blocker Zoe Hill ranks second in the Big 12 Conference and 32nd nationally in total blocks, recording 92 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).
  • Freshman middle blocker Rachel Langs holds down the top spot in the league in blocks per set (1.52), which also ranks her ninth in the nation.
  • Hill ranks right behind Langs in blocks per set with a 1.35 mark, good enough for fourth in the Big 12 and 30th nationally.
  • Junior outside hitter Jada Burse leads Kansas in total points (252.0), averaging 3.29 kills per set and 0.59 blocks per set this season.
  • Freshman Camryn Ennis has started the last 14 matches as KU’s setter, averaging team bests of 6.63 assists per set and 0.23 aces per set. The San Antonio native has reached nine assist-dig double-doubles in her 15 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 (3.42) with Angello not far behind at 2.77 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.

LAST TIME OUT
The Jayhawks swept Texas Tech (Oct. 13) in three sets to advance their nine-game winning streak.

UP NEXT
KU hosts Iowa State for its Jayhawks for a Cure game on Saturday, October 20 at 1 p.m. in Horejsi Family Athletics Center. This is the first of two matchups between these two teams this season.
 FOLLOW
@KUVolleyball
/KansasVolleyball
@KUVolleyball 

KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.