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sports
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | MONDAY, OCT. 31, 2016
Payne turns in big performance against Texas
- JORDAN WOLF @JordanWolfKU
As the Kansas volleyball team walked off the court following its 3-2 victory over Texas on Saturday, a crowd of Jayhawk fans stayed in their seats, chanting "Kelsie! Kelsie! Kelsie!"
The inspiration for their chants, Kansas junior Kelsie Payne, had just led the Jayhawks to their first victory over the Longhorns in 13 years. She finished with 21 kills on a .254 hitting percentage, and picked up 6 blocks as well. Her performance was certainly worthy of an ovation, and she was thankful to have received such a warm reception.
"They're amazing," Payne said about the fans. "They support us through thick and thin, even in like, the fourth set when we fall and they were still cheering for us and being loud, so that's all we could ask for."
Entering the match, the Jayhawks knew they would have to get things going on offense to combat Texas' conference-leading attack. Payne stepped up to steer the ship.
Payne wasted no time getting things going. Despite a slow start by the team that ended in a first-set loss, she found herself with seven kills as the second set began.
She didn't look back.
Payne continued her dominance throughout the rest of the match, finishing it off with three kills in the shortened fifth set. 21 kills were good enough for a team high, and were accompanied by second-highest block and hitting percentage numbers.
It was her fifth time leading the team in kills in the last seven games. As the Texas game and end of conference play approached, coach Ray Bechard knew Payne's role would need to be big.
"She's into it," Bechard said. "I told her, the second round of the Big 12, that she
needs to give her very best effort in front of every team that she plays.She had a good first round, but I think she can be even better in the second round."
As a junior, this was Payne's first victory over Texas in six tries. After years' worth of anticipation finally paid off, she was overcome with elation.
"You can kind of picture it, but it's not the same until you actually do it." Payne said.
Kansas and Texas are now tied atop the Big 12 standings. With just six conference games remaining on the schedule, the Jayhawks will need to finish strong in order to keep at least a share of the conference title. No match will come easy, and Payne and her teammates know that.
"We're gonna enjoy this moment, but then we're gonna get right back to it tomorrow because Big 12 isn't over, and anything can happen," Payne said.
Baxter Schanze/KANSAN
Junior middle blocker Kelsie Payne celebrates a win over Northern Iowa in August.
**Baxter Schanze/KANSAN**
Ashley Hocking/KANSAN
Ashley Hocking/KANSAN Guard Kylee Kopatich, a sophomore from Olathe, prepares to pass the ball to a teammate during the game on Oct. 30. KU won 98-71.
Jayhawks stomp Fort Hays State
▶ MATT HOFFMANN
@MattHoffmannUDK
During media day, redshirt sophomore guard Mckenzie Calvert said she wasn't worried about impressing in her first game at Allen Fieldhouse. She just didn't want to embarrass herself.
In her first game, an exhibition against Fort Hays State, Calvert and fellow transfer junior Jessica Washington accounted for 34 percent of the Jayhawks scoring. Calvert went 7-of-15 from the field while Washington went 5-of-13 in a 98-71 win on Sunday.
"I'm happy that I got to finally be out there and play on a such a legendary court," Calvert said. "Though I'm not overly excited about some of my shot selection."
Coach Brandon Schneider was quick to point out that Sunday's win was not without its faults.
"All of our bigs fouled everybody," he said. "A lot of that is just discipline. Everybody thought they were Mutombo leaving their feet, bad closeouts."
Senior forward Caelynn Manning-Allen started the game, but played just nine minutes, committed four fouls and scored just six points. Midway though the third quarter, Manning-Allen had played only four minutes but had three fouls. Her first
three entries in the play-log read "foul-turnover-foul."
Calvert and Washington played a combined 56 minutes and committed three fouls, combined.
"She's obviously really athletic," FHSU coach Tony Hobson said of Washington. "I've seen a lot of athletic people in my life that don't have the ball skills to go with it, but she has it all."
"She's obviously really athletic."
With two new athletes available in Washington and Calvert, Schneider wants to continue the pace the team had in its last season, something he's done for 19 years as a coach—even before Kansas—and was evident Sunday afternoon.
Tony Hobson FHSU coach
"I think the fans like watching when we play fast," Schneider said.
"It's really fun," Calvert said of the speed. "I've always been on up-tempo teams, which is why I came here. It's really fun getting out and running with your teammates."
While Schneider wasn't happy with the team's foul trouble, he did like their unselfishness, especially in transition. Kansas had 26 total assists, eight coming from Jessica Washington, who fell two shy of a double-double.
Kansas' tempo challenged FHSU, primarily because the team has had only 12 practices, according to Hobson. He said the team had to stop what they were doing in practice just to install inbounds plays.
FHSU shot 33 percent from the field and only 20 percent from behind the three-point line. The Tigers were forced to play four true freshmen in their normal rotation due to injury.
Junior guard Chayla Cheadle had 18 points for Kansas, tied for team best with Calvert. Sophomore guard Aisia Robertson had 13 points in just 16 minutes. Schneider also said he thinks Robertson has a chance to be the best on-ball defender for Kansas.
With the win, Kansas advanced to 26-1 all time in exhibition games inside Allen Fieldhouse. The last time the Jayhawks scored 98 points or more was three years ago in 2013 against Texas Southern.
"Their first ever game being here, I didn't even know if they'd be able to get up and down the court," Hoboson said.
Kansas will finish its exhibition slate with a game against Washburn next Sunday at 1 p.m.
Sharon Lokedi wins women's title at Big 12 Championships
▶ ADAM SCHERZER
@AJscherz
The Kansas men's and women's cross country teams competed against their conference foes this past Saturday at the Big 12 Championships. The event was highlighted by a firstplace finish by sophomore Sharon Lokedi with a time of 20:18.5. This marks the first time in the women's program history that a runner has captured an individual league title.
The women's efforts put them into sixth place, and the men finished in fourth place. Iowa State took the team title on the women's side and Oklahoma State placed first on the men's side.
Lokedi said she had been working for the moment and knew she had it in her to succeed.
"With each mile, the more I ran, the better I felt. I was like, 'I can do this.' Once I reached [the 4K mark], I knew that was the time to go. My body was adjusting well and mentally, I was ready," Lokedi said in a press release.
Lokedi's progress gives real hope to the coaching staff and the rest of the program.
Senior Hannah Richardson ran a solid race, placing 19th with a time of 21:22.0. The rest of the Jayhawk scorers were junior Lydia Saggau in 31st, senior Malika Baker finishing 33rd and senior Jennifer Angles, who placed 46th.
"I am really excited for Sharon. She's phenomenal and she's done nothing but great things for us. She really prepared well for this," coach Stanley Redwine said. "So it was really nice to see her hard work pay off. Hopefully this is just a sign of what's to come."
"I'm happy, but I know we still have a lot to do as a team," Lokedi said. "This is just the beginning. We have more to do and we have more to work on. We must look forward and
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Missy Minear/KANSAN Sophomore Sharon Lokedi leads a pack of runners at the Rim Rock Classic in Lawrence on Oct.1.
On the men's side, the team was lead by senior James Hampton, who finished 14th with a time of 26:01.5. This top-15 finish earned Hampton All-Big 12 honors. This award goes to show how much Hampton has improved throughout his career.
think about what lies ahead of us."
She's phenomenal and she's done nothing but great things for us."
Stanley Redwine Cross Country Coach
"My freshman year at this meet I was in the back, but each season I have progressively gotten better," Hampton recalled. "It really shows that you don't have to be the best runner
"It really helps my confidence both individually and as a team," Hampton said. "Each meet, we've put the pieces together. Beating Oklahoma today was a great confidence boost for us and so was getting fourth."
The rest of the men's team fared well, too. The other KU runners included junior Chris Melgares in 17th, sophomore Michael Melgares in 19th, sophomore Dylan Hodgson in 22nd and senior Daniel Koech in 32nd.
when you're a freshman. It matters when it's your last Big 12s. I wanted to go out there, do my best and give it my all, and I think I did that today."
Next up for the Jayhawks is NCAA Midwest Regional Championships on November 11th. The event is being held in Iowa City, Iowa. The men will run the 10k race and the women will run the 6k race.
- Edited by Ilana Karp
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