PAGE 6
MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOLLEYBALL REWIND
Jayhawks complete sweep at Georgia Bulldog Invitational
MATT GALLOWAY
mgalloway@kansan.com
Last season, the volleyball team started off by winning their first seven games.
But the dominant way they won the Georgia Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga., over the weekend may have been an even more impressive start.
The Jayinawks capped off an unblemished weekend by defeating Georgia, 25-16, 25-19, 25-14. It was the third sweep in two days for the Jayhawks, who improved their record to 3-0.
"You look at it beforehand and you have to be pretty happy with a tournament championship." coach Ray Bechard said. "You can identify a lot of things we can work on, but we're happy with a lot of things, too. We controlled the things we wanted to control."
Senior outside hitter Allison Mayfield led the Jayhawks with 10 kills and was named the invitational's most valuable player.
"I knew I wanted to play well and be a leader for my
team, with my passing and hitting." Mayfield said. "It was just kind of an added bonus to get that in the end. It just showed how much we were on, because I couldn't do that without my teammates."
The Jayhawks also got strong production out of their middle blockers, as sophomore Caroline Jarmoc and junior Tayler Tolefree each finished with eight kills against the Bulldogs.
"I think we did exceptionally well," Jarmoc said. "Obviously there is always room for improvement in every area, but I don't think we could have asked for a better start to the season."
The only time the Jayhaws were in danger of losing a set came on Friday against Florida A&M in the season opener. But behind a career-best .700 attack percentage from Tolefree, the Jayhaws swept, 25-22, 22-15, 25-20.
"I wasn't overly excited with the way we started the tournament in the first match, and the team wasn't either," Bechard said on Saturday. "But today was a different story. I thought we played at a another
level, and I was pleased with that."
Bechard's team trounced their second opponent of the invitational, Liberty, 25-21, 25-13, 25-9 on Saturday morning. Mayfield finished with 17 kills and a career-best .484 (17-for-31) attack percentage.
"I think we made it pretty clear that this team is going to be a threat offensively as well as defensively," Mayfield said. "In the past, we've had a pretty good offensive threat. But this tournament showed we could put up good blocks."
Despite the impressive start, Bechard, in his 14th year at the helm for the Jayhawks, still sees room for improvement before the team opens home play at noon on Sept. 2 in the first game of the Jayhawk Invitational.
"We've got a number of things offensively, just from a system standpoint, that needs a lot of work." Bechard said. "You can identify a lot of things from the first weekend of play. We've got to be a little more diverse in our offense."
- Edited by Josh Kantor
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
TOP PHOTO: Middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc spikes the ball over the net. The Jayhawks are 3-0 on the season.
MIDDLE PHOTO: From left, freshman outside hitter Sara McClinton and sophomore middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc communicate by the net.
BOTTOM PHOTO: From left, junior middle blocker Tayler Tolefree bats the ball at the net as freshman outside hitter Chelsea Albers watches from behind
KEEPING THE HAWKS ROLLING SINCE 1974
Don's Auto Center Inc.
Auto Repair and Machine Shop
785.841.4833 11th & Haskell
YOU'LL BE UP, & WE WILL BE TOO!
GRILLE AND CONVENIENCE STORE
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE HERE TO EAT HERE!
LOCATED IN NAISMITH LOBBY
GOSHOPOLITAN SEVENTEEN
Hey glam girls! Mary Kay is helping you fall into your beauty with eye makeovers, free samples, beauty consultations and more!
Tuesday, August 30
11am - 4pm
Kansas Union Lobby, 4th Floor