Thursday, August 16, 2007
The office of Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard is playing dual roles these days.
Awards and photographs from Bechard’s first nine years at Kansas and his prior 13 years as coach at Barton County Community College take up nearly every inch of wall space in an office that is one part administrative work place and one part trophy room.
Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard is three wins away from becoming the most winning volleyball coach in school history. Bechard's teams reached the NCAA Tournament three consecutive seasons from 2003 to 2005.
The makeshift shrine to Kansas volleyball is a visual reminder of the success Bechard has had during his tenure. But while Bechard sits three away from becoming the coach with the most wins in Kansas volleyball history, Bechard’s thoughts are on rebounding from a disappointing 2006 season.
After reaching the NCAA tournament three consecutive seasons from, 2003 to 2005, the volleyball team finished 2006 with a 10-19 record. Despite the setbacks of last year, Bechard appears poised and confident that his team can regain a place in the upper half of the Big 12 Conference and make a run at an NCAA tournament berth.
But right now the focus is on the process of molding together a team that consists of nine returning letter-winners and six newcomers. That process began on Aug. 7 when the team reported to campus.
“We don’t totally dominate their lives with volleyball but pretty close to it,” Bechard said, referring to the one week of practice prior to school starting. “We get a chance to talk about things in relationship to our goals. We have new players that we get to acclimate to our system, and everyone gets to devote their mindset to volleyball.”
Four starters return this season including senior right side/setter Emily Brown. The Baldwin City native has started every match in her career and is one of the few remaining players still around from the programs’s three-year NCAA tournament run.
“She’s obviously got as big a role as anyone on our team from a standpoint of what we expect from her,” Bechard said.
The team will also receive a huge boost from the return of senior middle blocker Natalie Uhart. Uhart, originally from Lansing, Mich., transferred from Long Beach State after her junior season and was named Big 12 Conference Preseason Newcomer of the Year. But Uhart suffered a season-ending knee injury while playing in the team’s preseason alumni game.
“She’s very versatile,” Bechard said. “She’s very physical. She’s one of our better blockers, one of our better attackers, and just one of our better teammates. She’ll create a confidence level for everyone she plays around.”
Although starters Savannah Noyes, Katie Martincich and Brittany Williams are returning, there will soon be opportunity for one of the seven newcomers to step in and contribute.
“We’re going to need some of these kids to play right away,” Bechard said. “It’s trial by fire, because you can’t trade the experience of stepping in versus a Big 12 team, but were confident they’ll pick it up.”
The first opportunity for the team to start building toward a successful 2007 will come on Aug. 24 when Kansas travels to Eugene, Ore. to compete in the Oregon Invitational against California State Bakersfield, Idaho State and Oregon.
Edited by Kaitlyn Syring
Uhart ready for another shot after injuries
Natalie Uhart left Lansing, Kan., to play college volleyball on the west ...
Volleyball team set to start new season
Coach Ray Bechard says defining team roles is a goal during tournament ...
Volleyball team working for strong start
Volleyball coach Ray Bechard tries to jump ahead in the preseason.
Tough season provides offseason work
After watching several of the teams the Kansas Volleyball team lost to ...
Coach Bechard wins more
Senior setter Emily Brown helps the Jayhawks to a 3-0 victory Tuesday ...
Volleyball takes second in Oregon
After winning their first two games in the Oregon Invitational, Kansas lost ...
Team stumbles in opening sets
Jayhawks return Saturday to win three sets against NC State.
Senior volleyball player aims high for season
Health issues made her miss most of last season, but now she ...
Volleyball team suffers major loss
The volleyball team lost Wednesday for the second time in a row ...
Ready to kill after last heartbreak
Volleyball team plays its first game in a week tonight against Missouri.
Uneven offense plagues Kansas volleyball
Freshman setter Nicole Tate has moved up the learning curve, but the ...
Players expected to step up at first ...
Volleyball team has early road games and faces Colorado tonight
Volleyball team is anxious to play matches
After three straight losing seasons, the team hopes to prove itself starting ...
Volleyball Notes: September 24, 2007
Here are some notes from volleyball's game against Texas Tech.
Volleyball starts season with three in Omaha
Coach Ray Bechard said some freshman may notch their first starts this ...
Volleyball looks to shine with strong recruits
The return of four starters will also help the Jayhawks as they ...
Volleyball prepares for three opponents
The team will play host to the Jayhawk Invitational this weekend,
Volleyball notes: Oct. 29, 2007
Although Kansas lost to Missouri Saturday, the team compiled some impressive offensive ...
Volleyball notes: Tate makes All-Big 12 Freshman ...
Bechard to be president of AVCA; Lawrence standout signs to play for ...
Young volleyball team hoping for quick chemistry
With only three seniors, the team will rely on raw talent as ...
Uhart returns to the court
For the third time during her collegiate career, senior middle blocker Natalie ...
Volleyball team to compete with alumni
Volleyball team targets improved Big 12 standing
Hawks hope to reach 3-4 in the conference in a home match ...
Hawks see loss as learning opportunity before ...
During Wednesday’s lose to Colorado, the KU volleyball team committed 32 error, ...
Volleyball team wins third invitational this season
The KU women’s volleyball team hopes to continue its success as they ...
The KU volleyball team finds small victories ...
The Jayhawk defense shut out Texas junior, Destinee Hooker but couldn’t stop ...
Ray Bechard notches tenth season
He says he doesn’t feel that old but he has the numbers ...
Kansas to host Jayhawk Invitational
The Kansas volleyball team hopes to improve skills to win tournament.
Sunflower rivalry opens Big 12 Conference play
Fans can look forward to not only a Suflower Showdown, but a ...
Volleyball team hopes to cruise through tournament
Facing strong Big 12 competition later in the season, the team wants ...
Senior’s volleyball career winds down
Emily Brown, a four-year starter, has lived volleyball for a long time, ...
Kansas sweeps Alumni
The Kansas Volleyball team faced alumni in the annual volleyball alumni match. ...
Volleyball coach makes history
Coach Ray Bechard surpassed former coach Frankie Albitz with the most victories ...
The heat keeps rising for KU volleyball
Kansas’ schedule against tough teams isn’t making the girls’ lives any easier.
Freshmen face rough transition to Big 12 ...
Melissa Manda leads the team in digs per game, while Jenna Kaiser ...
Volleyball to open Jayhawk Invitational
Kansas Volleyball will start the Jayhawk Invitational tournament against St. Peters today ...
Senior keeps hope in disappointing season
Most 10-13 teams would see their last seven games as annoyances, but ...
Kansas volleyball takes second at tournament
Jayhawks win against Central Florida in four sets; Kansas improves to a ...
Brown will be go-to girl this season
The volleyball squad finished a disappointing 10-19 last season. Senior Emily Brown ...
Last home match will celebrate seniors
Natalie Uhart and Savannah Noyes will be honored in Wednesday night’s matchup ...
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