Volume 128 Issue 10
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kansan.com
Tuesday. September 9, 2014
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COMMENTARY Volleyball continues to dominate at tournaments
Pre-conference tournaments are important in more ways than one to Kansas volleyball. They act as a springboard into the conference season and give the Jayhawks experience playing teams and styles they may encounter in the NCAA Tournament.
For the second straight year, coach Ray Bechard scheduled a difficult non-conference schedule. This year's schedule includes four tournaments featuring matchups with five teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, as well as teams that are likely to make it this season.
"The goal is, once again, to get into the postseason and so that (the non-conference schedule) reads you for that," Bechard said. "But beyond that, it does help you get ready for the Big 12 conference."
These pre-conference tournaments have been a major factor in Kansas' postseason success over the last two seasons, including the program's first-ever appearance in the Sweet 16 in 2013.
But the Jayhawks aren't just competing in them. They're winning them.
Dating back to last year, Kansas has won or tied for first place in five straight invitational tournaments.It's also doing so against quality opponents.
Last season, Kansas won the InnTowner and Kansas Invitations, and tied for first at the Arizona Invitational. You can bet these results gave the Jayhawks plenty of confidence for their Big 12 run.
Those results have carried over to this year, where Kansas has won its first two tournaments outright. The Jayhawks won the Kansas Invitational on Aug. 30, clinching the title by defeating then-No. 23 Creighton in the final match. On Sept. 6, Kansas swept its matches at the Pioneer Classic, beating undefeated Denver on its home court in the title match
But what better measuring stick than against the defending champs and current No. 3-ranked team in the country? This will especially prepare the young squad — the team only has three upperclassmen
The streak will be in jeopardy this weekend, as a matchup awaits with the defending national champions in Penn State in the Villanova Tournament on Sept. 12.
for conference foe and No.
2-ranked Texas, who has won
the Big 12 the last three years.
"Playing Penn State is really big obviously", sophomore middle blocker Tayler Soucie said. "That's the best school you're gonna play."
Even if the team doesn't push the tournament title streak to six, the Jayhawks will gain much-needed experience that will benefit them in conference play and beyond. Look to last season for an example.
Edited by Rob Pyatt
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Kansas volleyball players circle up before their match against Lipscomb on Aug. 29. The Jayhawks will face the University of Missouri-Kansas City tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Lawrence.
Freshman setter Ainise Havili spikes the ball against Lipscomb on Aug. 29. Havili has had 13 kills this season
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
CHRISTIAN HARDY
@HardyNFL
For the third consecutive year, the Jayhawks volleyball team will take on the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The Kangarooos (4-2) will travel to Lawrence tonight for a match against the Jayhawks, who are currently on a four-match winning streak.
Kansas (5-1) will play for its third win against UMKC in three years. In its last meeting against UMKC, Kansas took home a 3-1 win last year, and in 2012, it took only three sets for the Jayhawks to pick up the win. Of the 32 times the Jayhawks have taken on the Kangaroos, they have only been defeated once, and are 22-0 at home, which is where they will be on Tuesday.
Over the weekend, the Jayhawks continued their winning streak in Denver with three wins as they closed out the Denver Invitational. The team gave up only one set in their victories against Bradley, Sam Houston State and Denver University, which gave
Kansas its second invitational win of the season.
Senior outside hitter Chelsea Albers was named the most valuable player of the invitational, while freshman setter Ainise Havilli made her second All-Tournament team.
On the other end of the court, the Kangaroos come in sporting a 4-2 record, with wins against Central Michigan, Omaha, South Dakota State and Stephen F. Austin. UMKC lost only two players last year and returns five starters plus its libero, Taryn Miller.
the Top 25, coming in at No. 24.
The match is Kansas' lone game outside of tournament or conference play this season. Though UMKC has been a breeze for Kansas in the past, the match will make for good
junior outside hitter Jessica Hendin will lead the way for UMKC, as she has done in the team's first six matches. She averaging 3.08 kills and 3.83 digs per set so far this season after averaging just 2.56 and 2.64, respectively, last season.
The Jayhawks will also come into the match as a ranked team. After missing the American Volleyball Coaches Association's rankings last week and sweeping their matches over the weekend, the Jayhawks moved back into
mid-week preparation for the tough weekend slate that lies ahead of it, which includes No. 3-ranked Penn State, Villanova and American, which was just recently pushed out of the AVCA rankings.
The match against UMKC will start at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Horeisi Family Athletics Center. The game will also be broadcasted online via ESPN3.
Edited by Sarah Kramer
THE DAILY DEBATE Will Kansas soccer finish in the top three in the Big 12 this year?
"NO"
The soccer team has tallied up quite an impressive résumé for this week. With two wins in Colorado this past weekend, the team bumped its record to the best it's been since 2004 - 6-0. On top of that, Kansas is ranked first in the Big 12 standings, leading Texas Tech (2) and Baylor (3), who were predicted to be in the top four by the end of the season. Despite these excellent accomplishments, Kansas soccer fans should not get too used to seeing the Jayhawks within the top three of the conference standings by the end of the season.
by the end of the season.
Yes, the Jayhawks have been immensely successful thus far this season. I think that's been
Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying the Jayhawks are not an exceptional team this year. They have all the right tools to be successful: motivation, experience and passion. Unfortunately, the team will be pitted against some of the best programs in the country within its own conference. Coach Mark Francis has said it countless times: no conference game the Jayhawks play
well established. They should be proud of everything they have accomplished. No game is an easy game, but let's take a look at the teams Kansas has faced, leaving it with an unblemished record. South Dakota State University (2-3), Southern Methodist University (2-4), UT-San Antonio (3-2), Wake Forest (2-3), University of Colorado-Boulder (4-2) and Denver University (2-3-1). Only two of these six teams have achieved a winning record thus far into nonconference play, so it is safe to say things are only going to get tougher for the Jayhawks from here.
this year will be a given. The Big 12 is notorious for its strong women's soccer programs, and three Big 12 teams have already ranked within the Top 25 on NCAA rankings this season: Texas Tech, Oklahoma and West Virginia.
Additionally, sophomore defender Morgan Williams said this weekend that away games are tough to win, and the Jayhawks will be forced to face 50 percent of their conference competition on the road. All these teams faced slightly more challenging pre-conference schedules, and all these teams will be fighting for a top seed.
Edited by Ben Carroll
I'm not saying they won't make or win the Big 12 Tournament, or that they won't get a bid to the NCAA tournament, I'm only saying that given the extensive competition within the Big 12, the odds of them making top three are slim.
"YES"
A season 6-0, Kansas soccer has made it clear that this is the best team the program has fielded in the last 10 years. The Jayhawks were projected to finish sixth in the Big 12 this season, but they've proved that's far too low.
A after starting its season 6-0, Kansas soccer has made
The seniors have said returning to the tournament is the goal of this team and already are just one win shy of last season's mark. Kansas has already eliminated No. 24 Wake Forest from the NCAA rankings, and after sweeping a pair of games this weekend in Colorado, the Jayhawks expect to be placed somewhere inside the top 25.
Not only is the crimson and blue off to the best start in nearly a decade, Kansas has been effective defensively and have yet to trail a team during a match so far this season. That resilience is what is going to get the team a top-3 finish in the Big 12 standings.
The Jayhawks are dangerous on the offensive side of the ball, too, and own a
+12 goal differential, which marks the best the program has seen to start a season.
The offense is powered by junior midfielder Liana Salazar, who leads all Big 12 players with six goals and 13 points. Last week, Salazar earned herself Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career.
Although Salazar is the catalyst to the offense, the team hasn't seen a bunch of well-rounded girls like this team has in a while. Instead of one or two players scoring, everyone is getting minutes and contributing. Kansas has scored 16 goals coming from six different players.
Senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Stroud is as good as it gets between the pipes for Kansas. She earned her second shutoff of the season on Sunday against the University of Denver, and her 23 career victories has tied her for third all-time among Jayhawk goalkeepers. Having that type of leadership in the net has proven successful so far.
With this recipe the Jayhawks have, expect them to be able to finish in the top of the Big 12.
Edited by Rob Pyatt
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