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Volume 128 Issue 11
kansan.com
Wednesdav. September 10,2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
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COMMENTARY Coach Bill Self eyes top recruit for 2015 season
Kansas is on its way to another impressive incoming freshman class this season thanks to Bill Self's strong recruiting skills with Cliff Alexander leading the way as Kansas' second top-three prospect in the last two years. Self hopes to continue recruiting top prospects for the 2015 season.
No. 6 overall prospect Stephen Zimmerman, a top Kansas target, is a 7-foot center who was named the MVP of the Nike Global Challenge in August. He averaged 17.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game during the tournament.
Zimmerman is scheduled to come to Lawrence on Oct.10, one of his five officially scheduled college visits.
"The big thing I will be looking for on my visits is how I feel when I get to campus and see if I can see myself living there next year," Zimmerman said. "Just wanting to get the natural feel for where is right for me. A lot of players say it just feels right at a certain school. I'll most likely get to see practice and see around campus to see how I might fit."
Zimmerman is one of four top recruits that will be visiting Kansas and Kentucky within a week of each other. Jaylen Brown, Carlton Bragg and Brandon Ingram are also scheduled to visit. The four will travel to both schools together as a group.
"It just happens to be the midnight madness stuff at both schools, and that is usually the best time for recruits to visit and when coaches want players to see all the fun they have and when they want us to come," Zimmerman said.
Draftexpress.com describes Zimmerman as a mobile big-man with above-average passing skills and good ball-handling. Former Jayhawk Joel Embiid also was described with the same characteristics as a prospect.
Big men that can move, pass and score are ideal for a Bill Self high-low offense. Zimmerman is also a talented shooter, which makes him valuable at power forward because of his ability to stretch the floor and knock down perimeter shots.
With only one of the top 10 recruits signed for the 2015 class so far, there are still many visits and discussions to be had. In the last three years, Kansas has signed 15 recruits and they are looking to carry that success over to 2015.
Edited by Ashley Peralta
ANNA WENNER/KANSAN
Minami Levonowich, a senior from Hilton Head, S.C., lines up her shot at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational on Tuesday. Kansas finished second with a team total of 900 (+26)
MADELINE MALONEY
@madmaloneyUDK
leading going in and gave some shots away, but we learned a lot. I think it's
Kansas sophomore golfer Pornvipa Sakdee won the individual title at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational on Tuesday, with an even-par score of 216. Sakdee is the second straight Kansas golfer to win the Sunflower Invitational, after Meghan Potee won the event last year.
Sakdee began the day one stroke behind Kansas State's Chandler Gallagher, who finished the tournament at third overall. Sakdee shot
a 1-over score of 73 in the final round, which was good enough for the victory.
"I feel so happy." Sakdee said. "I am glad I won."
After finishing Monday's round in first place, the Kansas Blue team had a difficult day Tuesday, and finished second in the tournament with a team total of 900 (+36). The Kansas State Wildcats won the tournament with a final score of 894 (+30).
"We have a talented young group, so I just think we need to learn how to handle that pressure going forward. It was a good experience."
good to do it on the front end and figure out what we need to learn and adjust.
"Today was a tough day and obviously we are a little disappointed," coach Erin O'Neil said. "We were
ERIN O'NEIL
Women's golf coach
We have a talented young group, so I just think we need to learn how to handle that pressure going forward. It was a good experience for us."
Kansas junior Yupaporn Kawinpakorn had the best individual round of the tournament on Monday, but finished tied for fifth with an overall score of 222 (+6). Senior Gabby DiMarco tied for 19th with a score of 228 (+12). Freshman Kallie Gonzales tied for 35th at 238 (+22) and freshman Pitsiene Winyarat finished 47th at 243 (+27).
The Kansas Crimson team placed ninth and ended with a total of 949 (+85). Senior Michelle Woods led the Crimson team with a score of 222 (+6) and tied for fifth. Junior Mackenzie Thayer tied for 26th at 232 (+16) and senior Minami Levonowich tied for 44th at 241 (+25). Freshman MacKenzie Sexe finished 57th at 255 (+39) and junior Carly Humes placed 60th at 259 (+43).
Kansas will play next at the Minnesota Invitational in Minneapolis Sept. 15-16.
Edited by Jordan Fox
Kansas volleyball gets tough test from UMKC before Villanova Classic
KYLE PAPPAS
@KylePap
The No. 24 Kansas women's volleyball team (6-1) won in four sets, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 25-19, in a tougher-thananticipated matchup with the UMKC Kangaroos (4-3) on Tuesday night at Horejsi Family Athletics Center. It wasn't always pretty, but the Jayhawks still managed to secure a win heading into this weekend's Villanova Classic.
Senior Sara McClinton attempts to put the ball over the net before UMKC can block it during Tuesday's volleyball match at Horejsi Family Athletic Center. McClinton had a team-high 18 kills in Kansas' victory.
MICHAEL OBRIAN/KANSAN
"We really had to pull together as a team, we had to fix our errors and stay aggressive."
first set, the Jayhawks rallied back behind strong play from their outside hitters and an array of assists from freshman setter Ainise Havili, who finished with 42 assists and 12 digs for a double-double. The two squads exchanged leads late in the set before senior outside hitter Sara McClinton came up with two crucial kills to seal it for Kansas.
SARA MCCLINTON Senior outside hitter
"We really had to pull together as a team, we had to fix our errors and stay aggressive," McClinton said.
"These mid-week matches are sometimes a Catch-22, but everybody plays them so you just have to be ready," Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "Obviously there were times that it looked like Kansas City was a little more engaged than we were."
Kansas seemed a bit sluggish and unsure of itself early, as it fell behind after a string of mental errors and general poor play. Down 17-11 in the
The Jayhawks quickly dropped the second set after recording a dismal .000 kill percentage, finishing with nine kills and nine kill errors. But they overcame their lackluster second set, taking the momentum back for good with another late rally to steal the third set from UMKC.
McClinton and fellow senior outside hitter Chelsea Albers were too strong for
"[The third set] was crucial, that game kind of could have changed how the entire match went," McClinton said. "We were lucky that it went our way, but we had to grind out those last couple points and that made a huge difference."
"I think we're all kind of disappointed how we started off," Havili said. "But we fought hard and I think that shows how resilient we are. A win is a win, so we'll take it."
Junior hitter Emma Hagedorn was an impact player for UMKC all night long, recording 12 kills, as well as teaming up with sophomore Taylor Buhrow for a combined 3 blocks. The Jayhawks' front
the kangaroos at the net, as McClinton finished with 18 kills and Albers ended with 11. Freshman Madison Rigdon chipped in to an already-stacked outside hitter position with 15 kills of her own — several of those coming at key moments.
row struggled to get it over the Kangaroo's front early on, but managed to gradually wear it down as the match progressed.
With the win, the Jayhawks improve to 32-1 all time against UMKC, including 23-0 against the Kangaroos in
Lawrence. Kansas now kicks off the Villanova Classic by taking on host Villanova at the Jake Nevin Field House, Friday at 11 a.m. The Jayhawks then face Yale and American before closing out the tournament against defending national champion Penn State on Saturday afternoon.
Edited by Kelsey Phillips
Albers, McClinton in running for CLASS Award
KYLE PAPPAS
@KylePap
Both of the Kansas women's volleyball team's seniors, outside hitters Chelsea Albers and Sara McClinton, were named Tuesday as candidates for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate volleyball. The CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) award is given annually to an NCAA Division I senior with notable achievements in four
"These two have always represented this program in a positive way," coach Ray Bechard said. "They are the example of the balance required of a successful student-athlete in that they are both good students, good athletes and good people. We are proud of them, both on and off the court."
areas: community, classroom character and competition.
Albers is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection who's majoring in exercise science.
McClinton, also a two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, is majoring in human biology and plans to attend physician assistant school after her volleyball career. In addition to her demanding class schedule, she has paid her way to play on a USA Developmental Team the past two summers and donated her hair to the
On the court Albers and McClinton have become one of the most dominant twosomes in Kansas volleyball history. Both are coming off 2013 campaigns that saw them named All-Big 12 First Team and All-American Honorable mention while leading the Jayhawks to their first ever Sweet 16 appearance. The duo has showed no signs of slowing down in 2014 as McClinton has already notched her 1,000th career
She has embraced her role as veteran on a squad with seven freshmen and has shown strong leadership early in the season.
Locks of Love charity.
kill and Alberts was named MVP of the Pioneer Classic in Denver this past weekend.
The current list of 30 nominees for the award will be cut down to 10 finalists midway through the season, with the winner being announced during the 2014 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship in December. Kansas senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc was tabbed a top-10 CLASS finalist last season.
Edited by Casey Hutchins
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