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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.
DAY IN THE LIFE
kansan.com
BS
MERRILL EVANS
Ashley Hocking/KANSAN Merrill Evans is the Campus Assistance, Resource and Education (CARE) Coordinator. Evans coordinates support services for individuals impacted by sexual assault, sexual battery, partner/dating violence and stalking.
Finds rewarding career as CARE coordinator
Ashley Hocking/KANSAN individuals impacted by
By Elle Clouse
@elle_clouse
Merrill Evans spends her days on the second floor of Watkins Health Center, helping students through her role as the University's campus assistance, resources and education coordinator.
According to Evans, her desire to work in the field of sexual assault prevention and education comes from a variety of influences.
"My passion stems from a lot of my personal experiences, it also stems from things that are important to me as a woman, and as a feminist." Evans said.
When Evans steps foot into her office in the morning, she looks forward to having a new set of challenges and opportunities everyday.
"A day in my life is actually pretty eventful," Evans said. "A really busy day, I'll see four or five students, doing some individualized counseling. I'll have meetings on the hill. Oftentimes in the evenings we do presentations and trainings."
Evans is familiar with the University and Lawrence, which have become the backdrop of her career in social work. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University, and was born and raised in Lawrence.
One of the opportunities that Evans enjoys about her job is that she gets to be on the early end of helping a student through a traumatic experience.
"I've also seen firsthand what happens when young women are sexually assaulted and they don't get good care, what that looks like in their 30s and 40s and 50s," Evans said. "So it's also really exciting for me to think about being a part of that help and assistance in the beginning, versus 20, 30 years later."
Evans said that in the year that she's been CARE Coordinator, she's seen over 80 students; two males, a handful of students who identify as queer, and, the majority, cisgendered young women.
"I think it can be very challenging to listen to students talk about being sexual assaulted all day, everyday. It's a lit-
tlle overwhelming, it can be a little emotional. It's hard for me to hear a lot of stories about young men violating women," Evans said.
Outside of individual work with students, Evans works to create programs that bring about awareness. One program that Evans oversees is CARE Sisters, an advocacy program within the Greek community.
Kathryn Everett, senior CARE Sister leader, said that Evans is a pleasure to work with and learn from.
"She's one of the greatest people I've met at KU. She's super welcoming, and outgoing, and really excited about this program. Sometimes it's hard with college students and people who are out of college, there can be a disconnect with the age gap, but she really relates to us," Everett said.
At the end of a day in the life of Evans, she said that she aims to be a factor in a movement that is necessary.
"I want to be a part of the change," Evans said. "This is an area I know, and know really well, so I think it's something I can do pretty effectively."
- Edited by Missy Minear
My passion stems from a lot of my personal experiences, it also stems from things that are important to me as a woman, and as a feminist."
Merrill Evans
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.
Mykhaliliuk, another sharpshooter who's turned his season around after start-
However, Self did say Vick is "going to end up being our best defender, he's really improved a ton."
top that.
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.
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.
"You're not going to win relying on three point shots all the time," Self said.
As for Vick's perfect shooting night, that wasn't something Long Beach State coach Dan Monson necessarily expected.
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.
"He's not one that we were focused on," Monson said about Vick. "He just opened the game up with his shooting."
Basket, Graham Saul.
With all the recognition the duo of Mason and Graham have, Tuesday night was a reminder that Vick and Mykhailiuk are waiting in the wings for their time to shine.
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.
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.
ware Monday afternoon, as several Jayhawks found themselves recipients of All-Big 12 honors.
Senior libero Cassie Wait is the Libero of the
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.
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,
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.
Freshman Outside 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.
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- Edited by Cody Schmitz