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KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, OCT. 13, 2016
Fall break hiatus
KANSAN STAFF
@KansanSports
FOOTBALL:
Kansas fell just short against TCU on Saturday, in a 24-23 loss. Senior kicker Matthew Wyman's 54-yard game-winning field goal didn't have the distance, ending Kansas' chances at a major upset at Memorial Stadium. It was Kansas' defense which stole the show, creating four turnovers and putting the Jayhawks in position to win.
SOCCER:
Kansas played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday against Oklahoma State. Kansas conceded a goal early in the first half, as Big 12-leading scorer Courtney Dike scored in the fifth minute. Freshman Katie McClure scored at the start of the second half for Kansas, but the Jayhawks couldn't score again despite out-shooting Oklahoma State in the second half.
Two days before, on Friday, Kansas soccer lost to No. 3 West Virginia, 1-0. Kansas couldn't recover from a West Virginia goal in the 38th minute. Still, the one-goal loss felt like a victory of sorts after the game. In Kansas' last game against West Virginia, the Jayhawks lost 6-0.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
VOLLEYBALL:
No. 6 Kansas swept Texas Tech to advance to 4-1 in Big 12 play. The volleyball team was playing with academic counselor Scott "Scooter" Ward on their minds, after he was sent to the hospital with cardiac issues. Madison Rigdon tied a Big 12 record with six aces in one set. The team then remained at No. 6 in the latest AVCA poll on Monday.
Senior linebacker Courtnev Arnick tackles a Rhode Island receiver on Sept. 3 in Kansas' home opener. Kansas won 55-6.
Now cancer-free, Carla Arnick watches her son's success
> SEAN COLLINS
@seanzie 3
@seanzie_3
Every day, without fail senior linebacker Courtney Arnick FaceTimed or called his mom, Carla.
It was the best way for Courtney to see his mom while he was going to school in Lawrence and she was in Dallas, going through one of the toughest times in her life.
They talked about how Courtney was doing in-school and stayed up to date on each other's lives. But it was the football talk that became healing for the two of them during Carla's battle with breast cancer.
On Oct. 8, Carla stood on the 50-yard line of Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium for the coin toss. Carla wore a pink bandana on her head. Courtney wore a pink wristband, to represent the first game during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Kansas lost to TCU 24-23, but for Courtney, getting to play in front of her with both of them healthy was important for them.
"It was very special, it kind of took me for a loop because it's a college game
on ESPN and emotional," Courtney said. "I know she was happy and it made her day."
Carla is now cancer-free, which made Saturday an emotional day for her and Courtney. It was a rare occasion where the mother and son were able to celebrate a victory in their battle off the football field together.
When Courtney was younger, Carla coached Courtney and his brother. She's always tried to stay involved in his football career.
That moment, with his mother in the stands, translated into Courtney's play on the field. In just his second start of the season, Courtney led the team with nine tackles.
"He really had a sense of motivation out there, not like he didn't in other games, but you could tell something was different," senior cornerback Brandon Stewart said. "I think it paid off. We wanted to play for him and for his family."
In February 2015, Carla went to the doctor to get a bump she felt in her breast checked out. When the
news came back that she had breast cancer, Courtney was distraught but didn't ever lose his positive mindset.
"It was kind of a rough situation being that it was my mom. You don't ever want to see your mom going through any struggle," Courtney said. "In my head, I know I just have to deal with it and be there for her rather than be down about it. If I was down about it, she wouldn't have anybody to support her."
Carla had to begin her chemotherapy treatment shortly after she had the lump surgically removed. While the situation was dire and stressful for Carla and her son, she focused and kept her priorities in her children and their education.
"She handled it as nothing was coming of it and everything was normal," Courtney said. "She still was talking to me about football wanting to know what was going on as if nothing happened and everything is fine."
Despite the struggles last year, health problems
are nothing new to Courtney or his mother. Before Carla was diagnosed with cancer, Courtney struggled with heart problems. When he first arrived at Kansas in 2012, he was told he needed surgery. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to play football.
Only after Courtney's surgery was successful and he returned to football did his mother begin to get sick. Courtney wanted to leave school and be with his mother. Carla, though, didn't want for things to change.
"Ive always told him his education in school means more to me than anything," Carla said. "That would make me feel better if he stayed in school and made sure he graduated on time."
Education has always been Courtney's number one priority at Kansas, and he has a couple of academic honors including Big 12 commissioner's honor roll in his freshman year. This was instilled by his mother, who didn't have the same opportunity at an education that he had.
When Carla was in
school, she ended up being just nine credit hours short of graduating. The heavy toll of being a single mother with two children proved to be too much and she had to drop out of school. This is a fate she never wanted for Courtney, and he used it to not focus on her sickness.
"The way I look at it, problems are always going to appear in life and it's just certain situations that you gotta deal with when they approach you and it depends how you look at it," Courtney said. "She was big on education and all she wanted me to do was get my degree and have fun playing ball. I used that as my motivation."
After the game, Courtney left the locker room doors leading outside Memorial Stadium and was awaited by his mother. Carla held out her arms and walked toward a sluggish Courtney. The two embraced for a hug, and even after a loss, a smile came across Courtney's face. For that moment, the two were happy and healthy, together.
KU continues dominance in Sunflower Showdown
Andrew Rosenthal/KANSAN snike from a K-State player
Andrew Rosenthal/KANSAN Senior middle blocker Tayler Soucie and junior Madison Rigdon jump to block a spike from a K-State player.
Junior outside hitter Madison Ridgon hits the ball past two K-State players.
JORDAN WOLF
@jordanWolfKU
Andrew Rosenthal/KANSAN
Entering the 2016 Sunflower Showdown, No. 6 Kansas (16-2,5-1) and Kansas State (14-5,3-3) were expected to battle in a dramatic, closely-contested duel between two of the top teams in the Big 12. But for the Wildcats, the match did not play out as expected.
The Jayhawks swept the Wildcats in three sets, by scores of 25-15, 25-20 and 25-23. With K-State entering the match fourth in the Big 12, Kansas coach Ray
"That's a good team. That's a very,very good team," Bechard said. "Obviously,we were pretty motivated to play tonight,and that showed."
Bechard believes the intrastate rivalry was the fuel that led his team to such a strong performance.
Despite K-State's success thus far, Kansas was able to control the pace of the game throughout. In the first set, the Jayhawks established an early 5-1 lead after four consecutive blocks from the trio of senior Tayler Soucie, junior Kelsy Payne and
freshman Jada Burse. The team entered the match sixth in the Big 12 in blocks, so the stretch was a bit unexpected, but was certainly appreciated by Bechard.
"When you block for points like that, that can really get everything about your team and the game going," Bechard said. "That was a really great way to start it."
In the second set, things were a little closer. The teams' attacks were staggered, as they traded short runs and back-and-forth points. The difference was
Kansas' ability to push and close the set out on a 7-3 run, effectively putting K-State on the ropes facing defeat.
However, the Wildcats did not give in. The third set was the closest of all, as every time the Jayhawks would take a lead, the Wildcats would claw back in. But after going down 6-5 early, Kansas reclaimed the lead and didn't look back, leading for the rest of the match. A narrow two-point margin was enough for the Jayhawks to seal a victory.
Going hand-in-hand
with the strong showing up front, the story for the Jayhawks in this game was defense. Going into the game, Kansas ranked No.1 in the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage. Conversely, K-State was ranked No.2 in hitting percentage. In the end, defense came out on top, as the Wildcats were held to hitting just .190.
The well-oiled defensive machine freed up room for the Jayhawks' offensive attack. Junior outside hitter Madison Rigdon said that defense comes from team chemistry.
"Everybody's on the same page," Rigdon said. "We're getting those blocks, and really, really good touches to help the defense."
Kansas continues its recent dominance of the Sunflower Showdown, extending its run to 8-1 in its favor. The win moves them to 16-2 overall, and 5-1 in the Big 12.
The team has a quick turnaround before its next match, as it will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday to take on TCU, which currently sits in fifth in the Big 12 with a 3-3 conference record.
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