A/ SPORTS / WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
Jayhawks take on Aggies in tough Reed Arena
Freshman Libero Brianne Riley digs a shot during a game earlier this season. After sitting out with a concussion, Riley got back into the game Oct. 27 and will play with the team today against Texas A & M in College Station, Texas.
BY IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
Kansas has a tough game waiting for it today in Texas. The Jayhawks are in College Station for a rematch against the Texas A&M Aggies, who they topped in a five-setter in Lawrence on Sept. 18. But Kansas has never won a match at College Station.
Junior setter Nicole Tate has faced the Aggies both at home and away and knows what her team is up against.
up against. "It's going to be another tough game," Tate said. "We have to come out just fighting, and hopefully we end up on top."
end up on top.
Kansas (15-11, 6-9 Big 12)
swept Colorado in Lawrence on Saturday, but has an unfavorable record (2-6) in away games. A victory against Texas A&M would move Kansas up at least one spot in the Big 12 standings.
TEXAS A&M
The Aggies (12-12, 6-8 Big 12) dropped a five-setter to Baylor on Saturday in Waco, Texas, snapping a three-match winning streak. Baylor outperformed A&M on offense despite a remarkable, 27-point performance by junior Kelsey Black, who leads the team with a 4.2 kills per set average. She recorded her 13th double-double of the season by adding 16 digs.
of the season by Black Tate said Black was a major player for A&M.
player for Alicia.
"She has a really good arm swing," she said. "We have to pay attention to her a lot, when she's in the front and the back row. So that's definitely going to be a match key, is to keep her contained."
Sophomore Lindsey Miller follows Black in kills with 193 on the season and 11 in the match against Baylor. She contributed seven of the Aggies' 12 blocks on Saturday, but her team was still outdone by the Bears, who had 13.
the Bears, who
The Aggies, as a team, can play a well-rounded defense. Sophomore Tori Mellinger — who doubles as libero and outside hitter — contributed 20 digs on Saturday, followed by juniors Chelsea Ringel
and Elise Hendrickson with 15 and 14, respectively. In addition, Aggie setter Allie Sawatzky was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week in September.
in September.
Tate said the Reed Arena's reputation as a difficult environment stemmed in part from Texas A&M's yell leaders, who sport overalls and buzz cuts. She said they had a repertoire of unconventional cheers with which to draw the fans into the game.
game.
"They're just funny to look at, that's all." Tate said. "Just another gym."
KANSAS
Senior outside hitter Karina Garlington continues to lead the jayhawks' offense. Garlingen is sixth in the conference, averaging 3.54 kills per set with a team-best 423 hitting percentage.
On defense, freshman libero Brianne Riley returned to the starting lineup on Oct. 27, leading the team in digs in three of the past four matches. She and the Jayhawks will have their work cut out for them in the back court, as the Aggies lead the Big 12 with 1.4 aces per set.
Kansas has seen outstanding production from the middle blockers. Sophomore middle blocker Tayler Tolefree scored eight kills with no errors on Saturday for an efficiency of .571 and led the team with five blocks. Redshirt freshman Caroline Jarmoc leads the team with 88 blocks this season. In addition, Kansas recorded 11 blocks in an exceptional effort on Saturday against Colorado.
against Colorado. Also on Saturday, Kansas hit for an efficiency of just over 200. Coach Ray Bechard said the Jayhawks would have to do better at College Station.
"We've got to get better in our side out," Bechard said. "The first contact with our serve receivers has got to get better."
got to get better.
He said that if the Jayhawks did that, their hitting efficiency would improve and they would have a chance to win.
Edited by Dana Meredith
BIG 12 FOOTBALL VAU
Nebraska snaps to
RB with 'Wildcat'
Rex Burkhead found a silver lining in Nebraska's quarterback injury problems.
The sophomore running back relived his short-lived high school quarterback glory days taking snaps in the wildcat formation against Iowa State last week.
State last week.
“It’s fun being back there. You kind of feel like the leader of the team at the time. I guess you could say,” Burkhead said.
“It feels like playing pickup football as the quarterback. It’s fun having the ball in your hands like that.”
Burkhead ran for a career high 129 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-30 overtime win over the Cyclones. About three-fourths of his 20 carries came on runs out of the wildcat, a single-wing formation with the snap going directly to a running back lined up in a shotgun position. The player then has the option to hand off, run or pass.
"To be able to line up and do all that, you have to have an understanding of what you're trying to accomplish and be able to take charge," coach Bo Pelini said Tuesday. "Those are all things that are strengths of Rex. He's confident, he's a take-charge guy. I think he fits that role well."
The Cornhuskers ran Burkhead out of the wildcat for the first time in last year's Holiday Bowl win over Arizona. They didn't use the formation again until the Iowa State game.
Cody Green started at quarterback because of injuries to Taylor Martinez and Zac Lee. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said he put Burkhead in the wildcat as a way to minimize the risk of injury to Green.
Martinez is expected to play against Kansas on Saturday.
Associated Press
Gabbert had a career-worst 95 yards passing last week in a 24-17 loss at Texas Tech, the No. 20 Tigers' second straight setback following a 7-0 start. He said his troubles had nothing to do with the previous game, when he was sacked six times and appeared rattled at Nebraska.
He blamed reporters for wanting him benched in favor of freshman James Franklin.
Missouri offense is lagging, and some blame quarterback
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
passes. Last year, his first as the starter, Gabbert had 24 touchdown passes in 13 games.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Missouri's once prolific offense is sinking fast, totaling 34 points the last two games, and is a pedestrian seventh in the Big 12 in total offense at 407.8 yards per game. Gabbert has only 12 touchdown passes in nine games.
Coach Gary Pinkel won't pin the blame for the two-week tumble on his junior quarterback, saying
COLUMBIA, Mo. — It's been a tough couple of weeks for Blaine Gabbert. The Missouri quarterback insists he's fine and says support from the coaching staff has not wavered.
There are a lot of variables out there and he's not perfect," Pinkel said. "You look at the stats in the NFL and there's some great players, but they aren't going to have a perfect game every week."
"I think you guys are the ones that wanted me pulled," Gabbert said this week. "Everyone on my team wanted me out there and I wanted to be out there. You guys' opinions on who should get yanked really doesn't matter to us at all."
Franklin also had offers from Nebraska, Oregon, Oklahoma State, TCU and Kansas State. He appeared in six games, going 11 for 14 for 106 yards and a touchdown, and has run for two scores.
perfect game every time. So Gabbert's job is in no danger this week in the home finale against Kansas State (6-3, 3-3 Big 12). Missouri (7-2, 3-2) is 5-0 at home, one win away from its first perfect home schedule since 2003.
it was more a case of the entire offense being "out of sync."
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