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KU looking for faster start against West Virginia
--fast start."
▶ WESLEY DOTSON
@WesleyDee23
Gracie Williams/KANSAN Oklahoma State linebacker Chad Whitener tackles Kansas wide reciever LaQuvionte Gonzalez during the Oct. 22 homecoming football game.
Gracie Williams/KANSANing football game.
The Kansas football team quickly dug itself into a large hole in Norman, Okla., last week. The Jayhawks found themselves down to the Sooners 28-3 at halftime, and they went on to lose their seventh-straight game by a lopsided score of 56-3.
Kansas has failed to win a conference game on the road since 2008, when Mark Mangino was head coach. Current Kansas coach David Beaty is still trying to figure out how to not only achieve road success, but also more success in general.
"We've got to play better no matter where we're at," Beaty said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. "I don't think the road can be the determining factor for us. We didn't play very well in the first half against Ohio [Sept. 10], and that was a home game, and we really felt like we matched up pretty well with that team."
Kansas (1-7, 0-5 Big 12) has lost all three of its road games this season, but the team will be looking for more success when it travels to play West Virginia (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) on Saturday at Mountaineer Field at Milan
Puskar Stadium.
Beaty said a major factor in creating more of that road success could be with a faster start.
"From our standpoint, it's got to be — regardless of where we play, we've got to be able to manage that situation and get off to a fast start," Beaty said. "One of the greatest things for us to do when we're trying to turn this program [around] is we've got to manage that
The slow starts can be linked to what has been a dismal rushing attack for most of the season. Kansas managed only 49 yards on 28 carries in the loss to Oklahoma. The Jayhawks rank last in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (seven) and ninth in rushing yards per game (102.8).
ecution-wise, and the good thing is we [went] back and [looked] at it this week, trying to get better at just a few things that we're not being really sufficient on or efficient on."
As for the quarterback play, Beaty said that after looking at tape of redshirt-junior Montell Cozart, he is "our guy." Cozart was 20-of-36 for 120 yards and threw two interceptions against Oklahoma. He will
"Our guys are working their tails off," Beaty said. "We're just a little bit off ex-
need a bounce-back performance against a tougher West Virginia defense, which ranks third in the conference in pass defense.
"I thought he really did a nice job in the first quarter," Beaty said. "Really throughout the first half he had some nice throwaways that were shots or throwaways that [were] good decisions."
Still, there were errors by Cozart and the offense that will need to be cleaned
up, most notably, the interception thrown to Oklahoma linebacker Jordan Evans which was returned for a 33-yard touchdown.
"The pick six just — I mean, our team knows it," Beaty said. "That was one play that we were able to point to this year that effort wasn't good enough by anyone. I mean, anyone... We'll learn from that. But (Cozart is) getting better. He needs work just like everybody else, but he's getting better."
The faster starts will begin with a stronger showing offensively. It will be another tough environment this weekend, as West Virginia has dominated at home, posting a 4-0 record.
"We have really focused a lot on trying to handle ourselves because our opponent is going to be what we can't control," Beaty said. "It's the variable we can't control other than what we know, but if we can control ourselves, we're going to become a lot closer to what we want to be a lot quicker."
Kiekoff in Morgantown is scheduled for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
- Edited by Christian Hardy
Senior libero Cassie Wait celebrates after a point on Oct. 20 against West Virginia.
Missu Minear/KANSAN
Kansas wins in five sets
JORDAN WOLF
@lordanWolfKU
The Kansas volleyball team defeated Kansas State in five closely-fought sets (25-18, 26-28, 25-22, 21-25, 15-11) on the road Wednesday, the Jayhawks' second victory over their in-state rival this season.
The match was the collision of two of the Big 12's best teams. The Jayhawks were tied for first after their weekend victory over Texas, and the Wildcats entered the game at fourth. In October, Kansas took the first meeting of the season in a three-set sweep.
This time, the first set went by quickly with a score of 25-18 in favor of Kansas. The Jayhawks' defense shined as they held the Wildcats to just a .054 hitting percentage. It wasn't much of surprise for Kansas State, as Kansas'.139 opponent's hitting percentage was the best in the Big 12 entering the match.
Things were much closer in the next set. After rolling through the Wildcats in the first, the Jayhawks found themselves down 4-0 to start the second set. Slowly, they were able to claw back and tie it at 20. However, after extending the match by a few points, Kansas State took the set, 28-26.
The teams' first-set performances were flipped in the second. After shutting the Wildcats down to start the match, the Jayhawks allowed them to hit .237 in the second set, and fell to just .133 themselves.
Kansas State maintained a lead for most of the third set, but after tying it at 20, the Jayhawks went on a short 5-2 run. That was good enough to take the set, 25-22, and reclaim the match lead, 2-1.
The fifth set was all Kansas, save for a slight hiccup near the end. After gaining a quick 4-0 lead, the Jayhawks didn't look back. After fending off a late fourpoint Wildcat run, they closed the set out 15-11 and took the match 3-2.
After a fourth set in which neither team held more than a four-point lead, Kansas State scored the last four points and forced a decisive, winner-take-all fifth set.
Senior Tayler Soucie's strong fifth-set performance was the x-factor for Kansas. She picked up two kills and three blocks in the shortened set, the latter of which
contributed to her match high seven blocks.
Fresh off being named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week, junior Kelsie Payne led the match with 23 kills. It was her fourth time with more than 20 kills this season, and her 12th time leading the team in the category.
Madison Rigdon and Jada Burse rounded out the Jayhawk attack, adding 14 and 13 kills, respectively. Burse's 13 gave her a new season high. In limited time off the bench, freshman Zoe Hill added four kills as well.
Senior libero Cassie Wait recorded 33 digs, tying her season high from a September match against Creighton. It was also her third time with over 30 digs in one match this season.
Kansas is now 21-2 overall, and 10-1 in conference play. Their next match comes Saturday against Oklahoma, the second of back-to-back appearances on the road. Oklahoma will enter the match with a 4-6 conference and 10-3 overall record. With a win, the Jayhawks can claim a halfgame lead in the Big 12, as Texas will not play again until next week.
Missu Minear/KANSAN
Junior outside hitter Madison Rigdon bends for a ball in the first set against West Virginia on Oct. 20.
SAY NO TO GUNS ON CAMPUS
The Kansas Legislature voted to allow individuals 21 or older to carry concealed guns in public places including the KU campus, starting July 1, 2017, unless certain.
unaffordable measures are put in place. SEN. FRANCISCO
There is a chance the Legislature could vote to repeal or delay implementation of the law in this next session - a better chance if we return legislators who have already voted against this measure. Sen. Marci Francisco voted NO before, and she will vote NO again.
marci Francisco
2ND District • Kansas Senate
Let's keep Marci in the Senate, working for us. Paid for by Marci for Senate, Rita Spradlin, Treasurer
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