6B SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2009
Weston White/KANSAN
Sophomore outside hitter Allison Mayfield, left, and senior middle blocker Brittany Williams leap above the net for a block against the alumni Saturday night.
Junior outside hitter Karina Garlington touches the ball just over the blockers of the alumni team Saturday night. Garlington led the Jayhawks with nine kills.
Weston White/KANSAN
A former Kansas players hugs assistant coach Christi Posey at the net Saturday night after the alumni's 3-0 loss to the Jayhawks.
Jayhawks rally against alumni in annual opener
BY ZACH GETZ zgetz@kansan.com
The Jayhawks cruised to a 3-0 victory in Saturday's annual alumni exhibition game.
The first set started out evenly, but then the Jayhawks pulled away and led 16-7 in the middle of the set. The Jayhawks continued their attack to win the set 25-13.
In the second set Kansas led 6-1 early before the alumni started to catch up in the middle of the set. The Jayhawks regrouped and finished strong, winning the set 25-17.
The alumni came out with a renewed energy after losing the first two sets and tied the third set early on at 6-6. The Jayhawks then went on a strong run and scored 14 of the next 17 points and finished out the last set, winning 25-13.
The Jayhawks led the alumni in kills 37 to 24 and had 40 digs to the alumni's 35. Junior outside hitter Karina Garlington led the Jayhawks with nine kills and junior defensive specialist Melissa Manda led the team with 10 digs.
"I thought for the first time out,
I was really pleased what we got
Bechard said that they still could have done better with first contact and serves received. He also said that the serving could be a little more aggressive even though it was pretty consistent for the night.
done," Coach Ray Bechard said. "There were fewer communication issues, and fewer situations that didn't run so smoothly. I thought it was a really good start."
"We set three specific goals in relation to passing, hitting and serving, and we hit all three of those goals." Bechard said. "We were excited to make those three
things happen."
Garlington, Denver junior, said it was a lot of fun playing with her former teammates. She also said that the Jayhawks had an advantage over the alumni because they knew the players very well.
"We've been working so hard and no one really sees what we do back here," Garlington said. "It was nice to get in front of the people and get in our gym and show everyone what we've been doing. I think this year we are jilling so well as a team and I feel it in my bones that we're going to have such a great season. Everyone is on the same page, everyone is goal-oriented and we are just pushing it so hard. I think it's going to be a great season."
Emily Brown, who played for the alumni team and was the setter for the Jayhawks in 2004 to 2007, said that the lavihawks looked good.
"They obviously beat us pretty handily and meshed together pretty well," said Brown, who has been playing professionally in France.
again.
The Jayhawks open the regular season Friday against Middle Tennessee State at their tournament and will also play Xavier and Murray State Saturday at the same tournament.
Brown said it was weird playing against some of her former teammates, but it was fun to play in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center
—Edited by Abbey Strusz
Follow Kansan football writer Zach Getz at twitter. com/zgetz.
MEN'S GOLF
Junior leads team into season amid high expectations
BY ANDREW WITUSZTNSKI
awituzynski@kansan.com
The Kansas Jayhawks men's golf team is preparing for a new season and, with the loss of a few key seniors, the team's success will be determined mostly by Nate Barbee, Dakota Dunes, S.D., junior.
"Nate is my rock," Kit Grove, assistant golf coach, said. "If you drive by Alvamar, you'll find Nate's car in the parking lot. He is the first player there in the morning to practice his game, and he is the last golfer to leave."
Barbee holds 73.2 career scoring average and Grove is hoping that Barbee can maintain and even
improve on that role.
"Nate is the staple number one of the team," Ian Anson, Surrey, England, sophomore said. "Hopefully he can continue to play well, and if the rest of the队 improves, we should have a good season."
Grove said Barbee outworks everybody and is motivated by his goal of playing on the PGA tour.
Grove said that in a game where even the best players lose most of the time, he wants Barbee to improve his mental approach to the sport.
"I want to win a few tournaments this year individually and hopefully that will make the team have more success too," Barbee said. "If I play well, I'm capable of winning some tournaments and we have a great shot at regionals."
"Tiger Woods is the best golfer
in the world, and he only wins about 24 percent of the time," Grove said. "My players need to work on their maturity and be able to mentally handle the weeks when you play bad."
The key seniors that left the team
were Will Koelbel and Andrew Storm. Koelbel played in every tournament for the last two years. Storm graduated just as his coach was starting to notice him reaching his potential.
"Strormy was
the Jayhawks, he will be able to contribute to the team as a student manager.
really starting to fit the mode of a college golfer at the end of last season," Grove said. "I wish I had him to play another year."
"It'll be great to still have him around this year," Grove said. "He has a good knowledge of the game."
Although he will not be able to play in tournaments anymore for
"Nate is the staple No. 1 of the team. Hopefully he can continue to play well."
IAN ANSON
Surrey, England, sopho-
more
For the first time in coach Grove's tenure at Kansas, the team is holding an open tryout for walk-on players because of the lack of scholarship players. "I would love for a walk-on to come in and
produce for this team," Grove said. "Maybe a walk-on could light a fire for this team and push some of the veterans to keep earning their spots. We need some inter-squad competition. You never
know when you're gonna find a diamond in the rough.
Ian Anson said he has the same goals as Nate Barbee.
Despite losing some key seniors and having walk-on players fill out the roster, the team has high expectations for this season.
"I want to improve individually on my play last year, and we should make it to regionals," Anson said.
Grove also has high expectations for his team.
"We grossly underachieved last year and now we have to outwork some people," Grove said. "It's time for the players to man up and perform. We play in a pretty warm strong golf conference with Texas A&M returning as national champions, and Texas and Oklahoma State being perennial powerhouses. I want to be right up there with them. I want us to be a top-25 program."
Edited by Betsy Cutcliff