friday,november 21.2003
sports
the university daily kansan 3B
'Huskers block'Hawks
Kansan File Photo
Andi Rozum, sophomore setter, battled at the net during Kansas' game against Oklahoma on Nov. 12. The Jayhawks lost to Nebraska and are currently ranked sixth in the conference. They face Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Jayhawks face 18th-ranked Aggies next
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After winning four consecutive Big 12 matches, a school record, the Kansas volleyball team ran into a red brick wall: the No. 10-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The Jayhawks were defeated 3-0 in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, marking only the second time this season they have been swept.
"Virtually every match we've played this season we've made a little run," Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "We didn't do that against Nebraska."
After the two teams traded points early in game one, Nebraska used strong blocking and a .361 hitting percentage to claim the 30-22 victory.
Sophomore middle blocker Josi Lima had six of her 10 kills in game one.
Game two proved to be a lot like game one. The Jayhawks held close at the start, but Nebraska hit .441 and continued to block well in the 50-21 victory.
Coming out of halftime, the Jayhawks didn't go down without a fight. Kansas turned the table on the Cornhuskers, using strong blocking to jump out to a 5-1 lead. But Nebraska fought back with five points in a row to take the lead. Nebraska then used an 8-0 run to claim a 17-16 lead, and never trailed again, winning 30-21.
Lima and junior outside hitter Lindsey Morris led the team with 10 kills each. Senior outside hitter Abbie Jacobson had a team-high seven digs, and Lima added four blocks.
The Jayhawks (18-10, 10-7 Big 12), lost their 71st consecutive match to the Cornhuskus, but find themselves in sixth place in the
"They are a very balanced and talented team.Every time we turn around it seems like we're playing a ranked team."
Ray Bechard volleyball coach
conference.
Kansas will try to get back on the winning track at 7 p.m. tomorrow against Texas A&M at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. The Aggies defeated the Jayhawks 3-2 in College Station, Texas, on Oct.
15.
"They are a very balanced, very talented team." Beard said of the No. 18 Aggies. "Every time we turn around it seems like we're playing a ranked team."
The Jayhawks are 9-4 at home, and have won four out of five in the Horesei Family Athletics Center.
The Aggies lead the all-time series 16-0, and reached the victory mark on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Baylor.
Volleyball notes
A victory would give the Jayhawks a school record 11 victories in the Big 12.
The Jayhawks are 2-6 this season against top 25 teams.
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Team versatile on defense
Edited by Erin Riffey
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
scorer, Ashley Champion, presented an especially tough match-up for the Jayhawks. The 6-foot-6 guard can play in the post or on the perimeter.
"If you put a big guy on him it stretches the defense," Self said. "He can move to the five-spot and they go a little smaller and thinner, which creates problems for us."
The Mocs are also tough on defense, holding their exhibition opponents to 25 percent shooting. Self said Chattanooga was a team that could change defenses almost every time down the floor. That could cause problems for the Jayhawks, who saw nothing but man-to-man defense in the exhibition season.
"Based on past years when we have studied them, they will play two or three different zones," Self said. "They will run and jump and will trap the first pass. They will do some things that try and catch you off balance."
Tonight's Jayhawks might not
In college basketball any team can beat you on any given night, so we have to give it our all every time we step on the court."
Aaron Miles junior guard
look like the same team that struggled in against EA Sports and in the second half against Pittsburg State during the exhibition season. Self said he didn't want to reveal too much in the in those games.
"Hopefully we look like a different team," Self said. "We are close and we are to the point where most of the stuff we have in will last us until Christmas. After Christmas is when you add your other stuff in to get ready for conference play. We will add a wrinkle here and there, but for the most part the nuts and bolts are in
place."
With a match-up against Michigan State coming Nov. 25, the Jayhawks might be tempted to overlook the Mocs. But junior guard Aaron Miles said the team would not take any opponent lightly.
Kansas Basketball Note
"Every game we play we're going to play like it's the championship game and giving it our all," Miles said. "In college basketball any team can beat you on any given night, so we have to give it our all every time we step on the court."
Two Jayhawks could reach career statistical milestones today against Chattanooga;
■ Junior guard Keith Langford needs three points to reach 900 for his career.
■ Junior guard Aaron Miles needs four assists to reach 500 in his career. That would move him past Kevin Pritchard for sixth place on Kansas' all-time career assist list.
Edited by Andy Marso
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Defensive breakdowns focus for Washington during match-up against UMKC
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
had been deceiving. The Jayhawks were often beaten on individual possessions, and did not always work as a unit.
"There were certain plays when we would let them roll right past us and we weren't helping our teammates," Ervin said.
The breakdowns were a concern for Washington in the two exhibition match-ups. On three occasions during the games, Washington took time-outs in the final five minutes to refocus her team.
"There were certain plays when we let them roll right past us and we weren't helping our
UMKC and Kansas both come into the game facing a common opponent in the preseason: St. Louis Goldstar. The Kangaros defeated Goldstar 75-62 last Friday, two days before the Jayhawks pounded the souder 79-28.
The Jayhawks will also look for
teammates."
Lauren Ervin freshman forward on Goldstar
revenge tonight, as the Kangaaroos won last year's meeting 74-62 on Dec. 21 in Municipal Auditorium. UMKC went on to finish 7-21 overall, earning eighth in the Mid-Continent Conference.
The Jayhawks should have the benefit of two players returning to the lineup. Junior guards Blair Waltz and Larisha Graves are expected to play after missing the final exhibition game.
Crystal Kemp led Kansas in the preseason with a team-high 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Ervin, sophomore forward Tamara Ransburg and sophomore guard Kaylee Brown all averaged double digits in points in the two exhibition match-ups.
Senior guard Katie Houlehan leads UMKC, averaging 13.5 points and 3.1 assists per game in 2002-03. Also returning is sophomore forward Carlai Moore, who added 9.8 points and 5.7 rebounds, solidifying the Kangaroos' inside game.
Kansas has dominated the series with UMKC, winning nine of the 11 match-ups. The Jayhawks enter the contest having won their last four season-openers.
- Edited by Ashley Marriott
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