Friday, August 19, 2005
The moment of truth is rapidly approaching for the Kansas volleyball team.
Kansas unofficially opens its season Saturday night against a team of former Jayhawks in the Alumni Scrimmage. Coach Ray Bechard will use the match to take a look at as many possible lineups before the real competition begins in next weekend’s State Farm Jayhawk Classic.
“We’re going to put a lot of different people in a lot of different situations,” Bechard said. “Obviously, we want to play well, but at the same time it’s more important to get out in front of a few people in the stands.”
Bechard said the newcomers will benefit the most from the scrimmage, which will feature 10 recent graduates from past Kansas teams, including two male managers. It will give them a chance to adapt to the atmosphere of a match.
“It’s one thing to practice,” Bechard said. “Sometimes athletes rise to the occasion and sometimes they are a little intimidated in those situations initially.”
The season’s beginning has jumped on the Jayhawks quickly.
Having only been in two-a-day practices for two weeks limited the time the team had to work on details. Bechard said that strain was just something that goes with the territory.
“The closer you get to opening day, the anxiety tends to grow,” he said. “You start two-a-days thinking you have a lot of time to get stuff in, but here we are a week away from starting the season.”
Despite the short time, Bechard said he noticed the women progressing on the court.
He was especially pleased with the progress of the outside hitter corps, which consisted of juniors Jana Correa and Megan Hill and senior Paula Caten.
Correa fought injuries the past two seasons. This year, she is as healthy as she has ever been at KU, something that will be a big boost this season.
“That whole group, I think, has done very well,” Bechard said. “Paula has made a big jump from a community college transfer to figuring out Division I volleyball. Megan has been outstanding as well.”
Experience has been an important aspect for the Jayhawks as well. They return players with at least two years experience at five positions on the floor, and two in their fourth season. Bechard said that would be invaluable when it came time for the regular season.
“We have more experience on the floor than we’ve had in some time,” Bechard said. “That leads to a better understanding of what it’s going to take to be successful in a very difficult pre-conference schedule and in the Big 12.”
The way the group has come together is another contributing factor to how the team can succeed this season. The players spent more time building chemistry with one another this past summer then they ever had before.
“We were all here in the offseason for conditioning together,” Brown said.
“Building that bond during the summer really helped.”
Bechard said a trip to Brazil was also an important part of the bonding process. Each of those factors has formed a closer team.
“The camaraderie of the team has been great,” Bechard said. “The team chemistry appears to be as good as it’s been in a long time.”
The scrimmage Saturday will begin at 7 p.m at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
Admission is free.
Volleyball team tightens bonds and breaks cultural ...
Young volleyball team hoping for quick chemistry
With only three seniors, the team will rely on raw talent as ...
Life as she knows it
Kansas sweeps Alumni
The Kansas Volleyball team faced alumni in the annual volleyball alumni match. ...
Ray Bechard notches tenth season
He says he doesn’t feel that old but he has the numbers ...
Volleyball team hops across the pond for ...
The team finished its European tour with a 5-2 record.
Bechard celebrates 900th career victory
Volleyball coach’s road to KU had an unexpected start.
Volleyball team faces Texas Tech at bottom ...
The Kansas volleyball team gears up to face Texas Tech this weekend. ...
Women hopes solid team puts them at ...
Volleyball team will play in VCU Invitational this weekend.
Volleyball embarks on first road trip of ...
Volleyball team will attempt to block undefeated ...
Cornhuskers had key players graduate last year, but the team is still ...
Kansas squashes the competition over weekend
Volleyball team working for strong start
Volleyball coach Ray Bechard tries to jump ahead in the preseason.
Volleyball enters Oklahoma game on winning streak
Coach Bechard said the team’s performance last week was reflected in individual ...
Kansas to host Jayhawk Invitational
The Kansas volleyball team hopes to improve skills to win tournament.
Volleyball notes: Tate makes All-Big 12 Freshman ...
Bechard to be president of AVCA; Lawrence standout signs to play for ...
Ready to kill after last heartbreak
Volleyball team plays its first game in a week tonight against Missouri.
Volleyball team hopes to cruise through tournament
Facing strong Big 12 competition later in the season, the team wants ...
Frustrated Jayhawks collapse against Sooners
Coach Bechard said that this recent losing stretch has been incredibly difficult ...
Volleyball squad defeats St. Louis
Jayhawks open volleyball season today against Florida ...
The Kansas women’s volleyball team competes this weekend in the Georgia Bulldog ...
Volleyball team sweeps opposition
The Kansas volleyball team started off the season with three victories over ...
Kansas optimistic about next season
Kansas will lose four key seniors, but signed four recruits for next ...
Volleyball team defeats alumni
Jayhawks sweep annual season opener against alumni players.
Senior player has showed success so far
Coaches and players agree that Danille Wittman is a tough, hardworking player. ...
Volleyball hangs tough with Huskers
The end result may have been the norm, but Kansas played with ...
Jayhawk volleyball faces surging Buffaloes
Colorado comes to Kansas after upsetting No. 2-ranked Nebraska.
Kansas uses Missouri loss as motivation
The volleyball team is looking for a victory against Oklahoma to get ...
Volleyball prepares for three opponents
The team will play host to the Jayhawk Invitational this weekend,
Tough season provides offseason work
After watching several of the teams the Kansas Volleyball team lost to ...
Volleyball prepares for Wildcats
The team has been refocusing following tough losses.
Volleyball falls to top-ranked Nebraska
Volleyball Notes
This year's volleyball team gears up for the season.
Volleyball team set to start new season
Coach Ray Bechard says defining team roles is a goal during tournament ...
Another missed opportunity
Volleyball team targets improved Big 12 standing
Hawks hope to reach 3-4 in the conference in a home match ...
Hawks place second at tournament — again
After winning two games on the first day of the Cowgirl Classic ...
Volleyball team prepares for next season
Although the Jayhawks will lose four seniors, two new freshmen have been ...
The heat keeps rising for KU volleyball
Kansas’ schedule against tough teams isn’t making the girls’ lives any easier.
Jayhawks earn sweep against Wildcats
Volleyball team improves position as end of season nears.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID