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SPORTS
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, SEPT. 17, 2015
MISSV MINFΔR/KANSΔN
Players cheer during a set on Saturday evening against UMKC. The Jayhawks beat the Kangaroos in three sets.
Jayhawks' undefeated record and top statistics make waves
AMIE JUST
@Amie_Just
For Kansas volleyball (9-0), a streak of perfection continues into the last tournament of the season. And that streak — along with the efforts behind it — is starting to garner national attention.
On Monday, Kansas volleyball moved up five spots in the AVCA poll to No. 17. Very few teams around the country in the AVCA Top 25 still have perfect records.
Only two Big 12 teams are ranked this week. Texas, a consistent volleyball powerhouse, is ranked No. 2 in the country, boasting a '7-1
record. Two other Big 12 teams received votes in this weeks poll. Kansas State, who Kansas faces next week, was on the brink of making the top 25 and received 63 votes. Iowa State received 26 votes.
Kansas isn't at the top of the AVCA poll, but it's at the top of one national statistic As a team, the Jayhawks average 13.97 assists per set. That mark is the best in the country.
Conference foe Kansas State is also on that list, coming in at No.8 in the country, averaging 13.7 assists per set.
Two of Kansas' players are on national lists as well.
Sophomore setter Ainise
Havili isn't just on one of the national statistic leaderboards, she's at the top. She leads the nation in assists per set, averaging 12.31. She and Hannah Tedrow out of Loyola Marymount are the only two players in the country averaging more than 12 assists per set.
Kansas Volleyball Twitter account posted, "Ainise Havili leads the NATION in assists per set" on Sept. 14.
Kelsie Payne is ranked No. 40 in the country for her hitting percentage. Through Sept. 13, she has a .408 hitting percentage.
Havili also makes a top 20 appearance on the national leaderboard for aces per set. Havili averages 0.52 aces per set, ranking her No.20 in the country.
What does that mean for the streak? Well, Kansas volleyball is extremely talented and, based on the numbers, it wouldn't surprise anyone for that to continue.
Sophomore right side hitter
— Edited by Derek Skillett
CAROLINE FISS/KANSAN
Senior Liana Salazar walks onto the field during a pause in play on Sept. 6.
Salazar powers the offense to lead Kansas soccer into its last game of three-game road trip
Anybody could have predicted senior midfielder Liana Salazar would be the go-to player in Kansas' midfield this season. But, outside of Salazar, the team's first eight games of the season have been rather surprising — and not in a good way.
SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkyRolSports
Through those eight games, despite returning seven starters and bringing in standout freshman, the team hasn't found the results it probably should be returning.
But recently, Salazar, the Kansas star midfielder and MAC Hermann Trophy
Watch List player has proven herself as the motor of the Kansas offense. Head coach Mark Francis looked to Salazar, who has scored in three of the team's last four games, as a key contributor leading up to Kansas' game on Thursday against Arkansas.
"Liana has really been stepping up for us," Francis said. "She's been creating chances and had some opportunities. She's really stepped up when we needed some key goals in key moments."
While the results haven't always been positive, an overwhelming amount of the performances were, Francis said. Kansas recorded a 2-1
After the win over Colorado College, the scorer of the winning goal, Grace Hagan, said the team could use the emotional boost to carry into Big 12 play, which for Kansas begins on Oct. 2 at Rock Chalk Park against Texas.
"We've been playing really well," Francis said. "We've had better opportunities [to score goals] than everyone we've played, to be honest."
win over Colorado College last Sunday. Before that win, the Jayhawks lost 2-1 to Wyoming on the road and twice at home.
last Sunday over UMKC after three losses in a row. Arkansas already opened SEC play with a 1-0 loss to Tennessee on Sept. 11.
"I haven't thought about [Arkansas' struggles,]" Francis said. "They're probably pretty confident, they're just like us, with a win last Sunday."
Francis said Kansas could be missing freshman midfielder Parker Roberts due to injury. He said Roberts would likely be a game-time decision.
Edited by Maddie Farber
The Razorbacks have had the same results over the last four matches. They won 1-0
Column: Cozart remains calm in spite of struggle
NICK COUZIN
@NCouz
Two games in and heading into its bye week, Kansas foot ball is still winless. Typically, when a team struggles, the blame lands directly on the quarterback.
For Kansas, this is Montell Cozart. It's widely known what happened in Week 1: Cozart fumbled the snap at the end of the game losing the chance for Kansas to potentially tie the game with a field goal and even force overtime.
Bombarded by media after the game, Cozart remained composed despite his blunder just minutes before. With the fumble last week and the not-so-great outing this week (Cozart's completion percentage was under 50 percent), it would likely take a toll on someone, especially someone who takes the blame.
But there are no signs of that with Cozart. Coach David Beaty has spoken to his demeanor as always wanting to win and noted he does everything asked of him.
Cozart strives to be a leader in the locker room and on the field. He trusts his line to protect him and let him sit in the pocket to have time to let the ball fly. That ability and trust he has on the offensive side of the ball resonates with his teammates.
That's running back Keauin Kinner's favorite quality Cozart possesses, and that personality resonates with Kinner, who has spearheaded the offense through two games.
"He doesn't get rattled, or he doesn't show it," Kinner said. "He always has calm demeanor, and that's good about him. I feel like I'm the same way. I try not to show my emotions."
"He's good like he always is," Beaty said. "He's a great kid. He just wants this team to win. He's going to compete, he's going to do everything you ask him to do, but his demeanor was good."
The ability to not get rattled is a valuable asset for a quarterback to possess, and it's true of Cozart. Not once, on or off the field, has there been an instance where Cozart let a situation get to him, even in the heat of the moment.
Rallying around a team revolves around having a good quarterback and while Cozart creates a lot of missed opportunities his teammates and coaches have faith in him to succeed.
"We have all the confidence in the world" Cozart said of his team. "We just have to continue to build on that."
All that confidence starts with Cozart. By him keeping his calm demeanor and keeping his team motivated, the success in football will come. Cozart said it best; they just have to build off what they've already accomplished, though it isn't yet results in a game.
Cozart has already taken huge steps since starting last season; the process of growth is there. Cozart has been pushed through spring and fall camps and taken the strides to earn his job after Michael Cummings went down in spring.
Much of that is the result of his composure on the field, and the confidence his team has in him. Cozart can carry the team through his maturity and his action, but he still has to grow as a player on the field.
YANGENG LIN/THE DAILY TARGUM
YANGG LIN/THE DAILY TARGU Rutgers has suspended head coach Kyle Flood for three games. Kansas travels to Piscataway, N.J. to face the Scarlet Knights on Sept. 26.
Rutgers coach is suspended ahead of game
Kansas football has a bye week this week, following its 0-2 start to the year. However, while it may be all quiet on the front for the Jayhawks, that is not the case for their upcoming opponent.
DYLAN SHERWOOD
@dmantheman2011
NJ.com reported on Wednesday that Rutgers's coach Kyle Flood has been suspended for the team's next three games. That suspension will include Rutgers' final non-conference game, which is against Kansas on Sept. 26.
The AP Top 25 Twitter account posted: "BREAKING: Rutgers coach Kyle Flood suspended 3 games for contact over academic status."
Earlier this year it was reported that Flood was under investigation after meeting with a
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school professor to determine a player's grade in a certain class. His suspension comes as a result of "contact over academic status," according to the AP. In addition to being suspended for Rutgers' next three games, Flood was also fined $50,000.
Flood's absence will provide a somewhat easier opportunity for Kansas to get a rare road win, as the Jayhawks look to snap a 30-game road losing streak, which dates back to 2009. Kansas' last road win was against the University of Texas-El Paso in September of 2009; the Jayhawks won 34-7.
Edited by Vicky Di az-Camacho
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