sports
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Volleyball passed up for No.4 tournament seed
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | MONDAY, NOV. 28, 2016
▶ TIFFANY LITTLER
@lin33
U unprecedented. That was the word Kansas vol-
word Kansas volleyball used frequently to describe its 2015 season. The Jayhawks started off 20-0 before falling to Texas, one of the two teams that brought them their three
the seeding, but is looking forward more to playing on her home court.
"It's awesome," Wait said. "It's super exciting and just to get to play more games in Horejsi, you know, being a senior that's really special."
board tor Kansas game against UNC Asheville Friday night.
The new-look Jayhawks could hardly have looked better as senior guard Frank Mason III tallied another game with 20 or more points. Kansas steamrolled UNC Asheville at Allen Fieldhouse, 95-57.
The backcourt trio of Josh Jackson, Mason and Devonte' Graham remained intact, yet forward Udoka Azubuike and guard Lagerald Vick replaced forwards Landen Lucas and Carlton Bragg Jr.
"I thought Lagerald and Udoka were two of the big reasons why we played better," Self said after the game, regarding his choice to start Vick and Anubuike. "They both earned the right to get the opportunity."
Vick led the team in
The Jayhawks' backcourt trio continued to impress, combining for 41 of Kansas' 95 points. Mason led the team in scoring with 21 points.
Kansas started strong, with Azubuike and Vick contributing five of Kansas' first 10 points. Jackson and Mason began to take over, scoring nine more points between them, until Kansas went on a scoreless streak for four minutes, allowing UNC Asheville to bring the game back to 14-12.
Kansas continued to pull ahead as the game went on, with Graham acting as quarterback for the Jayhawks, dishing out a career-high 11 assists.
That was the closest UNC Asheville came to competing with Kansas, as the Jayhawks closed out the half on a 33-9 run.
With 7:23 left to play, Kansas led 82-43. Self switched out the starters to allow forwards Dwight Coleby and Mitch Lightfoot and guards Tyler Self, Tucker Vang and Clay Young.
show its improvement in three-point shooting, as Mason drilled 5-of-5 from beyond the arc and the Jayhawks finished shooting 62 percent from the three.
The scoring onslaughter from starters like Jackson, who recorded his fifth straight game in double digits, allowed Self to reduce their minutes after a grueling road trip to start the season.
Kansas returns to the court Tuesday night against Long Beach State in Allen Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.
took a 20-3 lead into half-time behind 160 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. On the Wildcats' first drive, fullback Winston Dimel scampered to the end zone for his first touchdown of the day after Ertz broke free for a 21-yard gain on the previous play.
As for the Jayhawks, the only positive of the first half was their opening drive, which went 11 plays for 58 yards and was capped off with a 34-yard field goal from senior kicker Matthew Wyman.
K-State running back Alex Barnes, who had four touchdowns against Baylor last week, produced one of two K-State second-quarter touchdowns with his 31-yard score. Barnes led all rushers with 103 yards on 10 carries.
Kansas freshman quarterback Carter Stanley threw
As for the Jayhawks, the only positive of the first half was their opening drive."
Still, the Wildcats didn't miss a beat rushing the football against the Jayhawks. Quarterback Alex Delton came in and followed suit, rushing for 50 yards on 10 carries. He did not attempt a pass while in at quarterback.
However, Hubener would return with 4:18 remaining in the third quarter, and on the first play of the fourth quarter, he gave the Wildcats their fourth rushing touchdown of the day when he inched in for a one-yard score.
went 10 plays for 75 yards in a fourth-quarter drive, which finished with a touchdown throw from Stanley to senior fullback Michael Zunica.
The Wildeats won the time of possession handily, controlling the ball for 36:23. The Jayhawks possessed the ball for only 23:37.
Kansas allowed 342 total rushing yards and 5.9 yards per carry.
Stanley, the lone bright spot for the Jayhawks who found a hot hand in the second half, completed 24-of-44 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns, but he fumbled on the final drive of the game and left the game with an apparent shoulder injury.
The Jayhawks finished their season improving upon last season when they went winless overall and in the Big 12.
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