Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The Kansas volleyball team will have a chance to sweep Kansas State in Big 12 Conference play for the season when they face off tonight.
Kansas is 3-26 against Kansas State since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, and one of its victories came earlier this season. Kansas currently has a 13-11 (5-9) record while Kansas State has a 10-14 (4-10) record.
Freshman outside hitter Tayler Tolefree swats the ball past Texas A&M defenders Oct. 31. Kansas will play Kansas State tonight at home.
Tonight
Kansas State at Kansas
When: 6:30 p.m.
Where: Horejsi Family Athletics Center, Lawrence
Up next
No. 21 Baylor at Kansas
When: 11 a.m., Nov. 14
Where: Horejsi Family Athletics Center, Lawrence
Kansas State started the season ranked in the Top 25 but has struggled throughout the season. The team has had some success recently; it won its last two matches, including one against a No. 25-ranked Texas A&M team.
Coach Ray Bechard said that the key to winning this match is the same as it has been all season.
“It’s which group can effectively serve the ball to get the opponent out of what they want to do and how can we first contact serve receive to run the kind of offense we want to run,” Bechard said.
Kansas is coming off of a bad loss to Oklahoma, and the team hopes it can turn its bad play from Oklahoma around, sophomore outside hitter Allison Mayfield said.
“We know as a team we didn’t do our best,” Mayfield said. “That just eats at you, and you want to prove yourself and that we are better than that.”
Kansas State will also be motivated to try to return the favor and knock off Kansas at home, Mayfield said.
“We know they are out to get us, and we have to play hard because they are going to have a chip on their shoulder coming out,” Mayfield said.
Playing an in-state rival adds a personal touch to the game, junior defensive specialist Melissa Manda said.
“Everyone knows someone on the team, or played club with these girls, or went to high school with them,” Manda said. “It adds to the energy before the game.”
— Edited by Samantha Foster
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