09
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2009
SPORTS
3B
VOLLEYBALL
Freshman outside hitter Tayler Tolefle swats the ball past Texas A&M defenders Oct. 31. Kansas will play Kansas State at home.
Kansas faces Kansas State in chance for season sweep
BY ZACH GETZ
zgetz@kansan.com
The Kansas volleyball team will have a chance to sweep Kansas State in Big 12 Conference play for the season when they face off tonight.
Kansas is 3-26 against Kansas State since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996, and one of its victories came earlier this season. Kansas currently has a 13-11 (5-9) record while Kansas State has a 10-14 (4-10) record.
Kansas State started the season ranked in the Top 25 but has struggled throughout the season. The team has had some success recently; it won its last two matches, including one against a No. 25-ranked Texas A&M team
Coach Ray Bechard said that the key to winning this match is the same as it has been all season.
"It's which group can effectively serve the ball to get the
opponent out of what they want to do and how can we first contact serve receive to run the kind of offense we want to run." Bechard said.
Kansas is coming off of a bad loss to Oklahoma, and the team hopes it can turn its bad play from Oklahoma around, sophomore outside hitter Allison Mayfield said.
"We know as a team we want do our best," Mayfield said. "That just eats at you, and you want to prove yourself and that we are better than that."
Kansas State will also be motivated to try to return the favor and knock off Kansas at home, Mayfield said.
Playing an in-state rival adds a personal touch to the game, junior defensive specialist Melissa
"We know they are out to get us, and we have to play hard because they are going to have a chip on their shoulder coming out," Mayfield said.
KANSAS STATE AT KANSAS
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Horejsi Family
Athletics Center, Lawrence
UP NEXT
No.21 Baylor at Kansas WHEN: 11 a.m., Nov. 14 WHERE: Horejsi Family Athletics Center, Lawrence
Manda said.
"Everyone knows someone on the team, or played club with these girls, or went to high school with them," Manda said. "It adds to the energy before the game."
Follow Zach Getz at twitter.com/zgetz.
Edited by Samantha Foster
NBA
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Orlando Magic bounces back from loss
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dwight Howard had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Vince Carter scored 15 points in his return from a sprained ankle, and the Orlando Magic bounced back from an ugly loss to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 93-81 on Tuesday night.
Two nights after losing by 28 points in Oklahoma City, the Magic built a big lead with the help of Carter, who had missed four of the past five games. Brandon Bass scored 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter as Orlando tuned up for Wednesday's home game with Cleveland, a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals.
Raymond Felton had 18 points and Boris Diaw added 14 for Charlotte, which cut a 22-point first-half deficit to six early in the fourth quarter but could get no closer in its second straight loss.
After Flip Murray's driving layup cut Orlando's lead to 81-75.
Marcin Gortat had a three-point play and Matt Barnes hit a fadeaway in a 7-0 run for the Magic. Carter hit two free throws with 3 minutes left to give Orlando a 91-79 lead.
Carter was just 5 of 16 from the field, but provided a boost off the bench in his sur-
bench in his surprise return.
He participated some in Monday's practice, then sat out the morning shootaround and was ruled out by coach Stan Van Gundy. But Carter said
he started feeling better in the afternoon and worked out before the game, working on his lateral movement.
Cleared to return minutes before tipoff, Carter watched from the bench in the first quarter as the Magic shot 70 percent, led
Vince Carter said he started feeling better in the afternoon and worked out before the game, working on his lateral movement.
by Bass' 6-of-6 from the field, and led 35-23.
Carter checked in to start the second quarter. He missed a 3-pointer on his first touch, but later hit three three-pointers, the last giving Orlando a 52-33 lead in the first half.
It was a much better performance for the Magic, who were criticized by Van Gundy after allowing the Thunder to shoot 57 percent Sunday.
The Bobcats couldn't keep big men on the court to guard Howard. Starting center
Tyson Chandler picked up two fouls in 3 minutes and sat out the rest of the first half. Backup Nazr Mohammed had three fouls in 6 minutes, and DeSagana Diop entered only to commit turnovers on consecutive possessions.
Non-conference schedule a challenge for Jayhawks
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
BY MAX ROTHMAN mrothman@kansan.com
Senior guard LaChelda Jacobs drives past an Emporia State player during the Jayhawks' final exhibition game Sunday. Kansas will open regular season play this Sunday as they enter a stretch of non-conference game against notable opponents such as Michigan, Xavier and UCLA.
Enough of the exhibition stuff, it's time for some real tests.
And that is exactly what Kansas will get this year, with perhaps the toughest non-conference schedule in Coach Bonnie Henrickson's six-year tenure at Kansas. And after all of that, Baylor, Texas and the other powers of the Big 12 await. If this talented Kansas team will go anywhere this year, they're going to have to earn it. Let's take a look ahead at a few of the toughest non-conference match-ups on the way.
MICHIGAN (10-20, 3-15)
VS. KANSAS, NOV. 22 IN
LAWRENCE. 2 P.M.
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Freshman guard Angel Goodrich says:
You might remember coach Kevin Borseth from his YouTube-circulated rants about his team's struggles with offensive rebounding. What you might not have already seen is the improved talent that his team brings to Lawrence this year. After a mainly forgettable season last year, the maize and blue are in need of a fresh start — something that this young group can provide. Despite losing some key players by graduation, junior guard Veronica Hicks leads the gritty Big Ten squad with dizzying speed and endless hustle. Incoming freshman guard Dayeesha Hollins should make an immediate splash and 6-foot-6 senior center Krista Phillips will pose a great match-up for junior center Krysten Boogaard.
"We just got to take the game the same way as any other game. Just like any other team. Get prepared, get ready and look to 'em as if they're the best team and just play 'em the same way."
XAVIER (25-7, 13-1)
VS. KANSAS, NOV.26
IN GRANDA BAHAMA
ISLAND, 3:30 P.M.
Down to the tropics Kansas goes for arguably the toughest battle of the year. Xavier will kick off the season as the No. 11 team in the nation, their highest ranking ever (narrowly edging the 12 spot they held last year for five weeks.) The Musketeers won the Atlantic 10 regular season title and led the entire nation in field goal percentage defense and third in rebounding margin. Looking past the graduations of players Tudy Reed and Jerri Taylor, junior forward Amber Harris will return from injury and look
NHL
Boston gives Pittsburgh second shutout in a row
BOSTON — Tim Thomas stopped 27 shots for his second shutout of the season, and Sidney Crosby was held without a point for the fifth straight game as the Boston Bruins the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Thomas recorded his 14th shutout — passing Andy Moog for 10th on the Bruins' career list — while handing Pittsburgh its second straight shutout.
It is the longest losing streak of the season for the Penguins.
Associated Press
to get back right where she left off (15.3 ppg and 8.9 rpg in the 2007-2008 season). Xavier also brings back Ta'Shia Phillips, last year's Atlantic 10 player after averaging a double-double with 13.9 ppg and 12.1 rpg and preseason Atlantic 10 third team selection junior guard Special Jennings.
Senior guard/forward Danielle McCray says:
"It's gonna prepare us down the road for some tough games we're that gonna be in. Xavier has a really good post player, TaShia Phillips. I played with her on the U.S.A. team. She's a really good post presence for them inside."
NBA
Associated Press
UCLA (19-12, 9-9)
VS. KANSAS, DEC. 3 IN LAWRENCE, 7 P.M.
Not only will this be a clash of two historically prestigious basketballs schools, but it will also be a battle of two experienced and talented teams. The Bruins return their top
"We haven't won so much here that we think we can sleep through anybody," Henrickson said. "These kids do a great job of respecting an opponent and committing to prepare the same way every day."
Michael Beasley scored 15 points and Mario Chalmers addec 13, including a 3-pointer that put Miami up by eight with 1:47 remaining. The Heat are 6-1 for the first time in a decade, matching the best seven-game start in franchise history.
four scorers from last year, including leading scorer junior guard Doreena Campbell (12.9 ppg). They finished with an impressive 10-3 non conference record last year, but were only 2-2 away to Pauley Pavilion. They were recently tailed to finish 4th in the Pac-10 by the conference's coaches poll, however that ranking is deceiving, as they were only four votes behind second place California. The Bruins boast a talented back court and will be ready to run with Kansas. Expect a tight one from two similarly-agile teams.
Follow Max Rothman at twitter.com/maxrothman.
- Edited by Jonathan Hermes
Heat holds off the Wizards, keeps first place in division
It's the second time Wade has topped 40 this season, both against Washington: He scored 40 last Wednesday in the nation's capital.
MIAMI — Dwyane Wade scored 41 points and the Miami Heat remained in first place in the Southeast Division by holding off the Washington Wizards 90-76 on Tuesday night.
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