Volleyball prepares to host UMKC

By Zach Getz

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Kansas volleyball team will have a chance to defend its home court yet again after a home loss against Missouri over the weekend. Kansas (11-9) will host University of Missouri-Kansas City (10-12), which is on a five-match winning streak, today.

Kansas is just 4-4 at home this season and will need to defend its home court better to make the postseason. Kansas is 27-1 overall against UMKC, and UMKC has not defeated Kansas since 1982.

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Photo by Mike Gunnoe

Sophomore outside hitter Allison Mayfield spikes the ball against Missouri Saturday. Kansas lost the match 3-1.

But UMKC is a very scrappy team and always has extra motivation to beat a larger conference team such as Kansas, senior middle blocker Brittany Williams said.

“They are on a winning streak of five games, so hopefully we can stop that,” Williams said. “Beating KU is always their number one priority. This is probably one of the games they always look forward to because they have a chance to beat Kansas.”

UMKC has been playing well lately and will want to knock off a team from a higher conference, coach Ray Bechard said.

“UMKC is going to come in here thinking this is a huge match on their schedule,” Bechard said. “We got to sense that it’s just as important to us as it is to them.”

Kansas will have only one day of practice to prepare for UMKC with the game on Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday. Senior defensive specialist Mellissa Grieb said she was glad Kansas was playing a nonconference team instead of waiting the entire week to play again.

“It’ll get us back out there, and we’ll be able to work on a few things we didn’t do well against Missouri,” Grieb said.

Even though UMKC doesn’t play in a major conference, Kansas can’t afford to overlook it, Grieb said.

“No matter what conference you’re in, if you are winning games, you’re a good team,” Grieb said.

Kansas will finish its homestand against No. 21 Texas A&M Saturday.

— Edited by Sarah Kelly

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