Jayhawks to play ranked A&M

Friday, October 30, 2009

The Kansas volleyball team will try and use some of it recent momentum to defeat No. 25 Texas A&M this weekend. Kansas comes in with a 12-9 (4-7) record while Texas A&M has a record of 13-6 (6-5).

The last time the two teams faced off was Oct. 3, when the Jayhawks played at A&M’s court, where Kansas lost in three sets.

Photo by Jerry Wang

Senior setter Melissa Grieb bumps the ball to a teammate. Grieb led the team with 18 dig in the 3-0 win against UMKC.

Sophomore outside hitter Allison Mayfield said Kansas played the Aggies tough in the Oct. 3 match, but didn’t quite reach their potential.

“We had a pretty disappointing loss there,” Mayfield said. “I think we all know we could have played better.”

Revenge is on the Jayhawks’ mind, and Mayfield said the team wants to avenge their earlier loss.

“What’s good about our conference is you get to play everyone twice,” Mayfield said. “So if that happens the first time you get those built up emotions and can just leave it out on the floor when you play them the second time.”

Senior defensive specialist Melissa Grieb said Kansas is excited for the chance to defeat a ranked team.

“There’s always that extra competition when a ranked team comes into your house,” Grieb said. “We really want to do some damage on Saturday.”

Kansas may get their chance with this weekend’s match. Texas A&M has lost its last two matches and lost three of the last four, while Kansas has won three out of its last four matches.

But A&M’s team is still nothing to be ignored. Kansas coach Ray Bechard said The Aggies have three seniors that started all four years and are a very experienced team.

Texas A&M’s offense is led by outside hitter Sarah Ammerman who leads the team with 4.07 kills per set. On the defensive side defensive specialist Tori Mellinger leads Texas A&M with 3.46 digs per set.

This weekend’s match falls on Halloween. The last time Kansas played on Oct. 31 was at Baylor, and Grieb said many of the fans dressed up and got a little crazy. She said she is interested to see what the Kansas crowd will do this year.

Coach Bechard joked that the holiday may give his team an extra edge.

“It’s a huge match,” Bechard said. “It falls on Halloween, so hopefully we can trick them.”

— Edited by Abby Olcese

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