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sports
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, DEC.1, 2016
KU volleyball expectations high as tournament begins
► JORDAN WOLF
@JordanWolfKU
ast season, the Kansas volleyball team ran the postseason tables and competed in the first Final Four in program history. Just under one year later, the team has its eyes set on another deep run, this time with higher expectations.
The Jayhawks enter the tournament this year as the No. 5 overall seed. After a
title. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 21-13 record, winning nine of its final 12 matches.
The biggest threat for the Jayhawks comes from the Samford attack. Senior outside hitter Erin Bognar finished the season 10th in the nation with 542 total kills, and 17th with 4.48 kills per set. Containing her will be pivotal for Bechard's team, as he acknowledged her prominent presence.
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from deep last season Vick was off to a cold start. Hitting only 24 percent of his threes coming into the game, the Memphis native quickly returned to last year's form.
In his second consecutive start of the season, Vick followed up his 3-of-4 three point night with an even more impressive 4-of-4 from three and 9-for-9 from the field.
"He's not always going to shoot like that," Self said about Vick.
However, Self did say Vick is "going to end up being our best defender, he's really improved a ton."
Mykhaliuk, another sharpshooter who's turned his season around after start-
Midway through the second half, Kansas was shooting just over 70 percent until a few missed threes dropped the Jayhawks to their eventual total of 54 percent.
top that.
"You're not going to win relying on three point shots all the time," Self said.
Despite the hot shooting, Self wasn't convinced this was a cure for other issues the Jayhawks have had.
What makes the performance against the 49ers even more impressive is that it was mostly without help from the usual suspects, guards Frank Mason III and Devonte' Graham. The two shot 3-of-7, but were overshadowed by the play of Vick and Mykhailiuk.
Basketball Organization
"He's not one that we were focused on," Monson said about Vick. "He just opened the game up with his shooting."
Monson also mentioned that film on Kansas showed that Vick's aggressiveness on the offensive boards is what they focused on, but his multidimensional skill set was the problem.
As for Vick's perfect shooting night, that wasn't something Long Beach State coach Dan Monson necessarily expected.
Coach Ray Bechard received the Coach of the Year award after leading the Jayhawks to their first ever Big 12 Championship. This is his second consecutive time winning the award, and the fourth in his career.
With all the recognition the duo of Mason and Graham have, Tuesday night was a reminder that Vick and Mykhailiuik are waiting in the wings for their time to shine.
ware Monday afternoon, as several Jayhawks found themselves recipients of All-Big 12 honors.
Junior outside hitter Kelsie Payne was named Player of the Year. She ranked third in the Big 12 during conference play with 4.07 kills per set, and sixth with a .320 hitting percentage.
Junior setter Ainise Havilli was named the Setter of the Year for the second consecutive season. She is the first player to receive multiple titles since the inception of the honors in 2012. She ranked fifth in the conference with 10.70 assists per set.
Senior libero Cassie Wait is the Libero of the
This season marks the first time a Jayhawk has ever won either the Player of the Year or the Libero of the Year award in Big 12 history.
Payne, Wait and Havili,
all unanimous selections,
are joined by junior
outside hitter Madison
Rigdon on the All-Big 12
First Team. Senior middle
blocker Tayler Soucie,
hitter Jada Burse was named to the All-Freshman Team. While not ranking in the top 10 of any major statistical category, Burse's role has grown in recent weeks after she began the season as a reserve.
Kansas will start its postseason play Thursday as it hosts Samford in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
- Edited by Cody Schmitz
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