THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013
PAGE 7B
VOLLEYBALL
Jayhawks look to continue winning streak against Texas
BRIAN HILLIX
bhillix@kansan.com
As of Wednesday morning, only two Big 12 teams remain undefeated in conference play. That will change Saturday as the Jayhawks (13-3, 3-0) take on the defending national champion Texas Longhorns (10-2, 3-0) at Horejsi Family Athletics Center at 6:30 p.m.
Currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, the Longhorns handed the Jayhawks their lone regular season home loss last season. Texas defeated Kansas in five sets, 20-25, 25-15, 22-25, 25-16, 15-12, to sweep the season series. The Longhorns went on to finish first in the conference and were picked by coaches in the preseason to repeat this season.
Kansas will ride a ten-match winning streak into Saturday's contest. The Jayhawks currently lead the Big 12 in hitting percentage, assists, blocks and kills.
The Jayhawks continue to receive weekly awards from the Big 12. This week, junior outside hitter Sara McClinton was
named the Offensive Player of the Week and freshman middle blocker Tayler Soucie earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor.
McClinton delivered one of the best performances of the season against Baylor after recording 23 kills and zero errors. In two matches last week, she totaled a conference-leading 5.14 kills per set while leading the Jayhawks in kills in both matches. Soucie, who now leads the Big 12 in blocks per set with 1.40, earned 16 blocks in two matches. Her nine blocks against Baylor ties for fourth most in a conference match this season.
The Longhorns have a talented freshman middle blocker of their own. Chiaka Ogbogu has been named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week for the second consecutive week after reaching double-digit kills in her last two matches.
Kansas' defense will have to find a way to stop preseason Big 12 Player of the Year Haley Eckerman, a junior outside hitter. She currently ranks fourth in the conference with 3.49 kills per set
while teammate Bailey Webster, a senior outside hitter, ranks eighth with 3.17 kills per set. Texas comes into to the match with a .26 hitting percentage, the second highest mark in the conference behind Kansas' .266.
Both teams will be battle-tested coming into the match. Texas has played five teams currently ranked in the Top 12 of the American Coaches Volleyball Association poll and has gone 4-1 in those matches. Kansas defeated Wisconsin, now ranked No.19, on the road in five sets and will have played three teams receiving votes.
Kansas continues to receive votes in the AVCA poll. The Jayhawks defeated Baylor in four sets on Saturday to remain perfect in the Big 12.
texas hosts last-place Texas Tech on Wednesday night in Austin, Texas.
Edited by Jessica Mitchell
Senior outside hitter Sara McClinton hits the ball against Notre Dame at a home game on Sept. 22. Kansas won 3-1.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
VOLLEYBALL
McClinton leads Jayhawks to victory against Oklahoma
BRIAN HILLIX
BRIAN HILLIX
bhillix@kansan.com
After their victory against Oklahoma on Wednesday, the Jayhawks now boast a 10-game winning streak. Kansas plays Texas this Saturday at home at 6:30 p.m.
Kansas (14-3) increased its winning streak to 10 matches as it defeated the Oklahoma Sooners (14-4) 25-23, 25-15, 25-23 on Wednesday in Lawrence at the Horesei Family Athletics Center.
Junior outside hitter Sara McClinton backed up her stellar play at Baylor to knock down a game-high 16 kills with a .438 hitting percentage. She continues to climb the conference leaderboard in the kills department as she now stands at fifth with 3.45 kills per set.
"It's always been a goal of mine
to lead the Big 12," McClinton said. "I know my personal goals can help the team, but the team goals come first."
of hard work," Albers said. "Especially in the league that we're in and how many competitive teams we're playing."
The Sooners built an early five-point lead in the first set as they led 12-7 and forced a Kansas timeout. Oklahoma stretched the lead to six later as it pushed ahead 17-11. Behind two kills each from redshirt senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc, McClinton and sophomore outside hitter Tiana Dockery, the Jayhawks chipped away to force an Oklahoma timeout. Down 20-23, the Jayhawks roared back and took the last five points of the set to claim the set 25-23, highlight-
Those goals include excelling in a highly competitive conference that features Texas (11-2), the defending national champion who the Jayhawks face on Saturday. Both teams are 4-0 as each team has only lost one set in conference play this season.
"it's a big accomplishment to have 10 straight wins, and to go a month without losing is a lot of hard work."
FILE PHOTO/KANSAN
"We've set some pretty high goals for the conference," coach Ray Bechard said.
This marks the first time since 2001 that a winning streak has reached double-digits. Junior outside hitter Chelsea Albers isn't taking the streak for granted by a Jarmoc block on set point. Strong serving from redshirt freshman Maggie Anderson aided the run, Kansas' outside hitters—Dockery, McClinton and
CHELSEA ALBERS Junior outside hitter
It's a big accomplishment to have 10 straight wins, and to go 6 month without losing is a lot
Albers—combined for 14 kills on the set led by Dockery's six on a .417 hitting percentage.
A dominant performance on both offense and defense powered the Jayhawks in the second set. With momentum from the first set, the Jayhawks built a 13-5 lead behind four kills and two blocks from larmoc and strong serving from freshman defensive specialist Cassie Wait. Four kills by McClinton and three blocks by Soucie increased the lead to ten as the Jayhawks led 21-11. A service ace by Anderson clinched the set 25-15. McClinton's seven kills in the set led both teams
and libero Brianne Riley again reached double-digit digs in a match with 15 after the second set.
"There wasn't much going right [at the beginning of the match]," Bechard said. "But you could feel us building momentum late in the first set. Little by little we started making better plays."
The Sooners came out of the break to win the first three points
of the third set and take a 9-3 lead. Four Jarmoc kills and two by McClinton erased the lead as the Jayhawks went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-10 lead. Oklahoma fought back to tie the match as the teams went back and forth the rest of the way. Tied at 23-23, an Albers tip shot, and an attack error by Oklahoma gave Kansas the set 25-23.
in digs this season, but that didn't stop the Jayhawks from hitting a solid .347 for the match. The Jayhawks outhit the Sooners and finished with 52 kills compared to Oklahoma's 38. The 52 kills are the second most this season for Kansas in a three-set match.
Senior setter Erin McNorton tallied 48 assists, which is the highest total in a three-set match in the conference this season. Al-
bers and larmoc chipped in with 11 kills each, and Riley finished with 17 digs.
Kansas and Texas will put their undefeated conference records on the line on Saturday at Horeksi Family Athletics Center at 6:30 p.m. The Longhorns come in with a winning streak of their own having won their last seven matches.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
WANT ENTERTAINMENT UPDATES ALL DAY LONG?
Follow @KansanEntertain on Twitter
Recycle this paper
Who knew I could earn money save lives, and get free wi-fi at the same time?
Donate plasma today and earn up to $300 a month!
B16 W. 24th Street, Lawrence, KS 66040
Street, Lawrence, KS 60845
755-109-5750
Scan for an insider look at the plasma donation process
To scan and view content, you must download
*Applicable for eligible, qualified new donors. No address new donors must bring proof of ID. Contact address.*
CSL Plasma
Saved for later. Planned for life.
10% OFF ALL SPIRITS
1906 MASSACHUSETTS STREET LAWRENCE, KS 68446
KU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS The University of Kansas
-