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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2012
VOLLEYBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Jayhawks to face in-state foe
GEOFFREY CALVERT
ecalvert@kansan.com
Senior middle blocker Tayler Toilefree knows this is the match people will care about, even after the season ends.
"That's the matchup people ask about: 'Did you beat K-State this year, did you beat them twice, did you beat them here?' Tolefle said. "It's a pride thing, just being able to say you beat your in-state rival."
Kansas hosts Kansas State at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center, and the match will be even more meaningful this year. This is the first time ever the teams will face each other as ranked opponents. K-State, ranked 14th in the country, is 17-2 on the season and 4-2 in conference play. The No. 21 Jayhawks are 17-3 and 5-1.
"They really force their ball to the middle but play a little faster to the pin players," coach Ray Bechard said of the Wildcats. "They've got some good experience on the pin. Their setter does a good job moving the ball around."
The Wildcats went 22-11 last season, falling to Pepperdine in
the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. K-State's offense centers on junior middle blocker Kaitlynn Pelger, who averages 3.92 kills per set.
Bechard said that they would try to contain Pelger, but they won't obsess with trying to stop her.
"She moves along the net and creates a lot of different angles for herself and opportunities," Bechard
said, "But if you spend too much time on her, they've got a number of other weapons that will up biting you."
"That's the matchup people ask about. 'Did you beat K-State this year, did you beat them twice, did you beat them here?'""
tter Catherine Carmichael gave the lavihawks a career-high 18 kills.
Many times this season, other teams have spent too much time trying to stop the Jayhawks' middle blockers, Tolefree and junior Caroline Jarmoc, and other Jayhawks responded with strong offensive performances. When Baylor used that strategy, sophomore outside hitter Sara McClinton responded with a team-high 15 kills for Kansas. Oklahoma did the same thing, and junior outside hit-
Tolefree said having the defense focus on her and Jarmoc opens the door for other hitters to succeed, and it doesn't stop her from affecting the game on the defensive side.
TAYLER TOLEFREE
Senior middle blocker
"It is frustrating, but at the same time there's two sides to our game," Tolefree said. "We have to
play defense and and then you have Catherine Carmichael coming through and racking up kills."
In the first 15 matches of the season, Kansas outblocked its opponents all but
Freshman Tiana Dockery attributed the decrease in blocking to the increase in talent once conference play began.
two times. But the Jayhawks have been outblocked in each of their last three matches.
"When you start playing the higher-level teams, they don't get blocked as many times, and they don't have as many hitting errors," Dockery said.
However, Kansas outdug its opponents during the last three matches, with junior libero Briane Riley leading the defense. Riley recorded 43 digs at Oklahoma last Wednesday, the top mark in the Big 12 this season. Her performance earned her Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Against Texas last Friday, Riley became the first Jayhawk ever to record at least 400 digs in three different seasons.
Bechard said if K-State does outdig the Jayhawks, they could offset it with their digs.
"Those two stats go hand-inhand." Bechard said. "Very rarely do you go big in both those numbers because sometimes your block's funneling the ball to a digger, so hopefully those two skills are playing off each other.
"But it'd be great to block more balls, because that leads to instant points, instant offense, and I think the block and aggressive serving can change the momentum of a match more than anything."
Edited by Madison Schultz
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Senior middle blocker Taylor Toilefré gets a kill during the second set against Iowa State on Sept. 26, Kansas won the second set 25-19.
SOCCER
Grow's dynamic playing persistent on pitch
ROSTE/KANSAN
Midfielder Amy Grow fights for the ball against a UC Santa Barbara player in a game on Aug. 17. The Jayhawks were victorious over the Gauchos in the season opener with a score of 2-1.
NICOLE EVANS
nevans@kansan.com
Senior midfielder Amy Grow has proven to be a quiet but dangerous asset for the jayhawks this season, constantly staying involved in the play and being a consistent presence on the pitch.
Grow has recorded three assists and attempted 28 shots this season, yet the record book does not give Grow nearly enough credit for her talents. Grow is a much needed weapon on the Kansas squad, as she works hard to stay involve
with the play and create chances not only for herself, but for her teammates as well. Grow plays with an air of selflessness, always putting the team before her own stat count, which is both needed and rare in an athlete, especially at the college level.
"I just love playing in a competitive atmosphere." Grow said.
Her most important assist came recently against Wake Forest. Kansas ended the match at a 1-1 draw after junior forward/midfielder Caroline Kastor scored off a well-placed pass from Grow late in the game. Although they weren't able
Grow
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Starting in every contest so far, the No. 19 jersey is commonly seen around the ball, both disrupting the opponents' rhythm and creating plays for Kansas. Grow plays with a strong endurance, often playing a
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to win, Grow's pass enabled Kansas to stay in the game and force it into extra minutes.
Grow said the hardest part about playing soccer was the time commitment.
game in its entirety without ever leaving the pitch. Her strong will and perseverance are only a few examples of the qualities of impressive soccer player.
www.studentsenate.ku.edu.
"However, it's all worth it come game time." Grow said.
Last season Grow started every match and took 43 shots, a feat that tied her for third-most shots taken. Though she has yet to find the back of the net this season, every shot Grow takes help to fluster the keeper, eventually allowing the team to find the back of the net. Grow's high level of talent comes to no surprise, as she has played soccer since she was five years old.
Grow has also received numerous honors intertwining both athletics and academics throughout her career as a Jayhawk. She has been listed on both the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll five times each. She has also earned a place on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team for the past two seasons.
Grow will finish her four years as she graduates later in May and will begin nursing school in June. Being successful on and off the pitch is difficult to manage, yet Grow has made it happen throughout her career.
Catch Grow in action as the Jayhawks play their last two conference matches Friday and Sunday at the Jayhawk Soccer Complex.
"I try to avoid procrastinating and take advantage of every opportunity to study." Grow said.
- Edited by Brian Sisk
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