KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2010 / SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
3B
Nationally-ranked Baylor defense awaits Jayhawks
Kansas is coming off a big victory over ISU
BY IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
The volleyball team will take the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week with them against Baylor's nationally ranked defense. The Jayhawks go to Waco, Texas, tonight after upsetting No. 10 Iowa State in Lawrence.
Senior defensive specialist Melissa Manda earned the weekly honor after recording a career-high 32 digs Saturday, which equals the most for a Big 12 player this year.
Manda said the whole team was "really, really happy" about Saturday's win.
"We've been playing really well at home lately," she said, "so we know that we could just step up our game and push back a little bit and that we'd have it."
The Jayhawks have fared better at home (9-2) than away (1-4). They improved Saturday to 12-6 overall and 3-4 in conference play. Manda said the team would try to keep its
Bears' offense hit for a .333 efficiency Saturday (Kansas averages 2.02) with eight different players combining to rack up 47 kills. But the Bears defense may present the bigger challenge.
momentum and refocus on the road.
"For some reason, we haven't been able to find the fire that we have at home..."
"For some reason, we haven't been able to find the fire that we have at home, so we need to take that with us. I guess."
Baylor's defense leads the NCAA in digs, averaging per set. That's three more than Nebraska, their nearest competitor in the Big 12. Baylor defensive specialist Caitlyn Trice leads the Big 12 in digs with an average of 5.32 per set, while outside hitter and libero Allison King takes seventh in the league with 4.04.
"Whether it's three games or five games, just playing consistently and not falling behind or being so up and down," she said. "It felt like we were in a rhythm tonight."
Baylor, like Kansas, is 3-4 in conference play after sweeping Colorado on Saturday. The Bears are having more success on the road (5-2) than at home (3-4). The
But Kansas has some highlyranked offensive players to field, too. Senior outside hitter Karina Garlington is sixth in the league with 3.49 kills per set and has gone for double-digit kills in each of the past seven matches. Meanwhile,
Sophomore middle blocker Tayler Tolefrew said after Saturday's match that consistency would be a key for the Jayhawks.
MELISSA MANDA Senior defensive specialist
junior setter Nicole Hate, who has been starting matches since conference play began, is seventh in the Big 12 with 9.14 assists.
Manda is the second Kansas player this season to take
Player of the Week honors. The league named Brianne Riley, also a defensive specialist, Rookie of the Week on Sept. 20. Riley has remained on the sidelines since a minor head injury at Colorado two weeks ago. Coach Ray Bechard said that Riley would return to play when she was able to and that he was pleased with how Manda had come through for the team.
Sophomore middle blocker Taylor Tolefree follows through on a kill in Kansas' upset over No. 10 Iowa State. The Jayhawks face a Baylor defense tonight that leads the NCAA in digs per set.
Match time is 7 p.m. Links to free radio through the Baylor website are available at www. KUAthletics.com.
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Edited by Joel Petterson
Are you considering career in chiropractic?
Come and visit us at our beautiful campus in Overland Park
- Three entry dates per year
- Accelerated undergraduate courses
- A rich history and exciting future
- Scholarship opportunities available
CLEVELAND CHIROPRACTIC COLLEGE
Kansas City | Los Angeles
www.cleveland.edu
1-800-467-CCKC
---