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Volume 128 Issue 44
kansan.com
Mondav. November 10, 2014
COMMENTARY Bowen makes the difference in first Big 12 win
The fans rushed the field, the goal post came down and in-
came down and interim head coach Clint Bowen received a Gatorade bath; all these events occurred when the Kansas football program won a Big 12 Conference game.
All stats aside, the resilience of the Kansas team (3-6,1-5), and the respect the team has for Bowen made the difference in the 34-14 win against the Iowa State Cyclones (2-7,0-6). This win should be enough for Bowen to keep the head coaching job moving forward.
"This game was a microcosm of our season," junior quarterback Michael Cummings said. "We saw some adversity, but we just kept battling through that adversity, and it is good to finally get a win after all of the hard work we put in."
Senior linebacker Ben Heeney said the team is filled with players who don't quit, and this team wanted to win for Bowen because the team doesn't know someone who bleeds crimson and blue more than Bowen does.
"No one loves KU more than [Bowen]," Heeney said. "This is big for us to get [Bowen] that win. He needed one, and we hope to get him a couple more."
Say all you want about Bowen only winning one conference game against a 2-7 Iowa State team; Bowen won a conference game within the first five games after becoming head coach. Former coach Charlie Weis didn't win a conference game during his entire first season at Kansas.
["Bowen] connects with us," Heeney said. "When he first took over, the first day, he was out there running sprints with us."
Bowen also brings a different presence to the team, which many of the players haven't seen before. Bowen likes to have fun with the team, and he gains the player's respect.
the team's message is to keep Bowen around. The record doesn't show it, but Bowen has rejuvenated this Kansas football team. Heeney said the team is 100 percent behind Bowen, and even though Heeney won't be around next season, Bowen has his vote.
All the players believe Bowen can be the face of Kansas football in the future, but Bowen hasn't thought about it and won't until the season is over.
"We are behind [Bowen], the whole team feels like he should be the guy," Heeney said. "We want him to be the guy. There is not a guy in the United States that loves Jayhawk nation more than [Bowen]."
"We've got a great, unbelievable athletic director who understands football, understands this program." Bowen said. "When this thing is all over, he's going to make the best decision for the University of Kansas and we're all going to support it."
Edited by Drew Parks
TAMING TECH
Junior outside hitter Tiana Dockery taps the ball over the net against Texas Tech on Oct. 25. In Saturday's game in Lubbock, Texas, Dockery recorded 47 attacks against the Red Raiders.
Kansas closes strong against Texas Tech to win in four sets, brings record over .500
MATT CORTE
@Corte UDK
@Corte_UDK
Kansas volleyball has a Big 12 record over .500 for the first time this season after defeating Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-21.
The Jayhawks (18-7, 6-5) started conference play poorly by going 0-3, but have rebounded since, winning six of eight to finally push the team to a winning Big 12 record.
"Today was obviously extremely important," coach Ray Bechard said. "We've been fighting to get over that .500 mark and this was a very good team. We also have five very good teams left, so now we try to get better each and every day and look forward to
our travels to Manhattan."
Junior outside hitter Tiana Dockery led the way for Kansas. After racking up 29 attacks in a sweep against Baylor, Dockery totaled 47 attacks against Texas Tech (15-9,3-9), converting 20 for a season high in kills.
Senior outside hitter Sara McClinton also helped carry the Jayhawks offensively, converting 16 kills on 34 attacks for a .353 hitting percentage, which led the team.
Both Kansas and Texas Tech exchanged points early in set one until the Jayhawks built its largest lead at 16-13.
The Red Raiders quickly responded, though, claiming four straight points of its own and 11 of 14 to push the Jayhawks to a 24-19 deficit.
Kansas made the first set interesting by scoring three straight points to close the gap at 24-22. However, Texas Tech put the next ball away for its first set win against the Jayhawks since 2011.
"We've been fighting to get over that .500 mark and this was a very good team."
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The first set loss also put Kansas in an unfamiliar situation, as the team had won its last five first sets dating back to Oct.18.
separation in the second set, Kansas got two timely blocks from sophomore middle Tayler Soucie to extend its lead to 16-13.
RAY BECHARD Volleyball coach
Still struggling to find
The Jayhawks only needed that three-point cushion, as they fought off a couple Red Raider scoring runs before scoring five of the last six points to win 25-18.
Set three featured much of the same back-and-forth scoring between the two teams, as they fought to an 18-18 tie late in the set before Kansas' underclassmen took over.
Freshman outside hitter Madison Rigdon totaled three kills, and freshman defensive specialist Addison Barry and sophomore libero Cassie Wait both had service aces, which contributed to
Kansas winning seven of the last eight set points.
After a four-point run put Kansas up 13-10 in the fourth set, the Jayhawks looked poised to finally break a set open in the match.
A comfortable finish was not meant to be for Kansas, as Texas Tech grabbed six of the next eight points to reclaim the lead 16-15.
Both teams then traded points until they tied the score at 20, and once again, Kansas finished a set strong.
The Jayhawks ended the fourth set on a 5-1 run, using four different hitters to produce those points, which ended with a match winning kill from Rigdon.
— Edited by Drew Parks
Kansas overcomes turnovers, Washburn
KIRSTEN PETERSON
@KeepUpWithKP
The Jayhawks won their second exhibition game on Sunday, defeating Washburn 78-58. The game, however, didn't seem to live up to what coach Bonnie Henrickson expected coming out of the first exhibition game against Fort Havs State last week.
Kansas had 19 turnovers, less than last week's 24 turnovers against Fort Hays State, but Henrickson said she didn't feel that this was a step up from last week's game.
"Offensively, the ball got stuck, and that's not really who we've been, so that was disappointing." Henrickson said. "Our passing skills weren't very good, but we got a lot of kids minutes and we've got the opportunity to get some kids in uniform and let them see what they look like. I thought today, more than the first time, we kind of played out of character a little bit."
Twelve of Kansas' 19 turnovers resulted in Washburn lawups.
"We didn't play with a 'poj' defensively in the second half at all and they took advantage of it." Henrickson said. "They kind of punched us
in the mouth and we didn't have an answer, [we've] got to have an answer when someone does that to us."
Senior guard Natalie Knight shined throughout the game and finished with 21 points, going 8-for-10 from the free-throw line. Henrickson said she was impressed with Knight's aggressiveness.
“[Natalie] looks good selfish.” Henrickson said. “We’ve asked her to do that, to put it on the floor and be more aggressive. That's good offense for her because she shoots it
"I thought today, more than the first time, we kind of played out of character a little bit."
BONNIE HENRICKSON Women's basketball coach
so well."
Right behind Knight, senior forward Chelsea Gardner had 20 points and nine rebounds. Henrickson said the Jayhawks have Gardner and Knight as the team's primary producers, especially on the offensive side. When
Knight was asked if she likes facilitating the ball as much as she like scoring, she said she tended to rely on her aggressiveness.
"That comes with being more aggressive, I think," Knight said. "I love to get my teammates involved and Chelsea is our primary look, so anytime I can get it to her I'm looking for her."
Freshman guard Lauren Aldridge put up five points in her first four minutes of play, standing out at the beginning of the game. Both Henrickson and Gardner said Aldridge has done a great job. When Gardner was asked if it was difficult to have a freshman as a point guard while everyone else on the court was a senior, she left no confusion in her confidence with Aldridge.
"I thought Lauren [Aldridge] did a great job getting the ball inside the paint," Gardner said. "I think it's a lot easier having four seniors around her because it made her more comfortable having us around."
Kansas will compete in its first game of the regular season Nov. 16 against South Dakota.
Edited by Yu Kyung Lee
ANNA WENNER/KANSAN
Senior guard Natalie Knight goes for a layup in Sunday's win against Washburn. Even with 19 turnovers, the Jayhawks won 78-58.