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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
VOLLEYBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Accomplished Kansas team prepares for NCAA tournament
BRIAN HILLIX
bhillix@kansan.com
Kansas players stand for the National Anthem and roster announcements before their game against Texas Tech on Nov. 23rd. No.14 Kansas (23-7 overall) plays Wichita State on Friday, Dec. 6 in the first round of the Division 1 Women's Volleyball tournament in Allen Fieldhouse.
Kansas is heading to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year and will host the first and second rounds in Allen Fieldhouse. Here is an A-Z recap of the season and everything you need to know heading into the tournament.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
All-Big 12 selections - Redshirt senior middle bocker Caroline Jarmoc, senior setter Erin McNorton and junior outside hitters Sara McClinton and Chelsea Albers were named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Coach Ray Bechard earned the Big 12 Coach of the Year hon-
the big 12 Coach of the Year honor for the second straight season while McNorton was named the conference's Setter of the Year.
Back-to-back - Kansas will host the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
Creighton - The Creighton Blue-jays will be the favorite against Arkansas to advance to the second round and play either Kansas or Wichita State.
Digging up the serve - Kansas ranks first in the Big 12 in service aces allowed.
experienced - Both Kansas and Wichita State return key players from last season's NCAA Tournament teams. Wichita State seniors Ashley Andrade and Chelsea Feekin were named the Missouri Valley Conference Co-Players of the Year.
fifty-one - Libero Brianne Riley recorded double-digit digs in 51 consecutive matches. The streak was snapped against Kansas State on Nov. 16.
Goodbyes - On an emotional senior night, the Jayhawks defeated Texas Tech in straight sets in the seniors' last match at Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The seniors include Jarmoc, McNorton, Riley, outside hitter Catherine Carmichael, defensive specialist Jaime Mathieu, defensive specialist Amy Wehrs and setter Kara Wehrs. The class is considered one of the most successful senior classes in Kansas volleyball history.
Holding their ground - The Jayhawks didn't lose to any team in the Big 12 ranked fifth place or lower.
owa State goes down - For the first time since 2004, the Jayhawks defeated Iowa State in Ames. Kansas won the match in four sets to earn a split with the Cyclones for the season.
Jarmoc became Kansas' all-time blocks leader on Oct. 23. She has 547 for her career.
kill leader - The Jayhawks rank first in the Big 12 with 14.46 kills per set. McClinton ranks seventh in the conference while Jarmoc is ninth.
Los Angeles regional - If Kansas advances to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks will play in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California.
Middle blocker Tayler Soucie was named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team. Sophomore outside hitter Tiana Dockery earned the honor last year.
Norman letdown - The layhawks fell to Oklahoma in Norman in the last match of the regular season. After winning the first set easily, Kansas failed to score 20 points in a set the rest of the way.
Outlook for the future - The future of Kansas volleyball looks bright as Kansas signed seven players to the program for next season. Highlighting the list is setter Ainise Havili, who led her club team to the national championship.
Preparing for the tournament - Kansas played nine teams this season that qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks played Texas, Oklahoma and Iowa State twice.
Quieting the home crowd - Kansas lost only three true road matches this season. The Jayhawks defeated tournament-teams Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin and Iowa State on the road.
will play the winner of Creighton and Arkansas — teams that defeated the Jayhawks this season.
Redemption - Kansas will play Wichita State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Shockers knocked the Jayhawks out of the Big Dance last season in the Round of 32. If Kansas wins, it
ed the jayawks this season.
Second-place - With a 12-4 finish in conference play, the jayawks clinched second place in the Big 12 — the team's highest finish ever. Kansas finished behind No. 1 Texas, which finished the season undefeated in conference action.
Tweaking the lineup - Outside hitters Carmichael, McClinton and Dockery have all started at different times this season. It is
unclear which two will get the start against Wichita State.
Unanimous selections - McNoron was the unanimous choice for Setter of the Year by Big 12 coaches. Soucie was a unanimous selection for the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
Victorious in the classroom Kansas led the Big 12 with eight members named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team. Amy Wehrs was one of four players in the conference to earn a 4.0 GPA.
Winning streak - The Jayhawks won 10 straight matches between Sept. 13 and Oct. 9. This is the first time a winning streak has reached double digits since 2001.
X-Factor - Redshirt freshman setter Maggie Anderson has come on as a serving specialist throughout the season and has sparked many Kansas runs. She has seven service aces on the season in limited playing time.
Young players in the lineup Kansas and Wichita State each
have two freshmen who receive extended playing time.
zero sweeps - The team did not lose a three-set match all season. Kansas will play Wichita State at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. Admission is free for University students.
—Edited by Sylas May
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
FOOTBALL
Charlie Weis crosses paths with Kansas State coach Rob Snyder at Kansas' game against the Wildcats Saturday. The Jayhawks lost the in-state rivalry contest 31-10.
Football notebook
Top Big 12 teams battle
CONNOR OBERKROM
coberkrom@kansan.com
BEDLAM
Since the Big 12 went to 10 teams it had to rid itself of a championship game, but Saturday is essentially a 4-team playoff for Baylor, Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Even if Oklahoma State wins Bedlam, Texas or Baylor can still have a share of the Big 12 title and if OU wins, each team would have a shot at an outright title.
A Baylor victory coupled with one for the Cowboys would land Baylor likely in the Cotton Bowl while OSU would get the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl nod.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy mentions that his team's been playing for its postseason life since it lost to West Virginia and has capitalized on the situation.
"It's really another game," Gundy said in the weekly Big 12 teleconference. "We've been in tournament play for the last eight weeks. Our guys are focused on tomorrow's meetings and tomorrow's practice."
Gundy said the team never looked ahead, but that it saw the value in preparing for each game one at a time, not once looking toward the
future.
The last time Oklahoma State won a Big 12 title in 2011, OSU had to beatOU to win the title and pummeled the Sooners.
"It'll be a really good test for our players," Gundy said. "This will be a good football game."
MACK BROWN REDEMPTION TOUR
Texas plays Baylor on Saturday and with the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game taking place beforehand, Texas win the
THE
After a turbulent start to the season, Mack Brown now finds himself playing for at least a share of the Big 12 title game.
league outright if OU is able to pull off the upset in Stillwater.
It was a similar situation in 2001 when it played Colorado in the Big 12 championship game and was in a bigger stage- a chance to play Miami in the national championship game.
Mack Brown is trying to ignore the championship implications and keying merely on beating Baylor.
"You ignore it as much as you can, what you've got to do is beat a really
"It's an exciting weekend for the Big 12 because we really have two championship games on Saturday."
good Baylor team," Brown said. Brown has pointed to the coaching staff, most notably the hiring of defensive coordinator Greg Robinson as a crucial reason for Texas playing remarkably down the stretch.
MACK BROWN
Texas football coach
"I think the biggest thing is that coaches did a great job of fighting together and make sure they stay
focused of what was important," Brown said.
starting 1-2.
Brown also said that they can't control what happens in Stillwater and considering how the season unraveled, it has been fortunate after
The two games this weekend provide a similar situation to what a playoff really looks like and provides a good exposure opportunity for the league.
"It's an exciting weekend for the Big 12 because we really have two championship games on Saturday. It shows you how much parity there is in this league right now."
Edited by Sylas May