KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 / SPORTS
VOLLEYBALL
7A
Team prepares to take on Tigers, deceptive offense
Dalton Gomez/KANSAN
Freshman setter kara Whers goes up for a spike against Texas &Amp;M on Sept. 18. Wehrs leads the team in assists per set this season, but junior Nate Tale has been the starting settter recently.
BY IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
The Missouri Tigers will visit Lawrence for the Border Showdown volleyball match tonight at 6:30 p.m. Kansas comes home after two losses on the road.
Redshirt freshman Caroline Jarmoc said it was important that the jayhawks play at their own level and not wait to see what their opponent would bring to the match.
"We always say we need to throw the first punch," she said. "I think, against Nebraska, the first set was really good. We were very calm and confident."
Last Wednesday, Kansas won the first set against Nebraska for the first time in series history, only to see the Cornhuskers come back to win the next three sets and the match. The Jayhawks are 10-5 overall and 1-3 in conference play after dropping a five-setter to Colorado on Saturday, but still have a 7-2 record at home. The Jayhawks defeated Texas A&M 3-2 in their last home match on Sept. 18.
The Kansas offense is led by junior outside hitter Allison Mayfield and senior outside hitter Karina Garlington. Mayfield reached a career-high 20 kills in the match at Colorado, and Garlington is eighth in the conference with a team-best 2.28 kills per set. Supporting the offense are freshman setter Kara Wehrs and junior setter Nicole Tate. Wehrs leads the team in assists per set, but Tate has started in the last two matches.
SOFTBALL
Eight new Jayhawks will take field in fall season opener Wednesday
BY KATIE PRIEBE
kpriebe@kansan.com
Fall season is about to be underway for the Kansas softball team. With additional depth providing eight new faces — including three pitchers — the team is prepping hard for their fall season opener on Sept. 29 against Baker.
Coach Megan Smith said the depth was something she is excited about. Smith said moving people around and trying new positions for players was something they didn't have the luxury of doing last year.
We have added a lot of depth in the infield, which we needed. And a lot of depth 149 the mound, which we really needed, 1667- Smith said.
The fall season is for the team to set individual, as well as group goals. Acquainting the new eight
players with the rest of the team and building leadership is key to the
Hile
success of the fall season.
Smith
"It's a puzzle and we are trying to fit the pieces together. And that is what the fall is all about. Really seeing everyone in different positions with all of our depth, and where everything will fit together once January comes," Smith said.
one of the strengths the team had demonstrated is the desire and
passion to work hard on the field. Work ethic and communication are the team's strong points.
Senior catcher Brittany Hile said she was focused on being a leader and developing the chemistry of the team.
"I would really like our team to succeed in the Big 12. I want us to shine, while we are all still together. Just to have a great season and improve each and every game," Hile said.
Hile said it's hard to believe it's her last year, but that she will stay focused on every pitch and inning of each game.
The softball team has six fall season games all played in Lawrence. The spring season schedule will be released in the upcoming weeks.
—Edited by Tim Dwyer
K-State takes 2nd at home tournament
Pienaar, a senior from Pongola, South Africa, shot 72-65-74 — 211 and won the individual title Tuesday by three strokes over host Kansas State's Jack Watson, who finished at 214.
Kansas, while UCA also claimed the team championship.
at Manhattan, Kansas, with an 889 team score, besting second-place Kansas State by nine strokes. UMKC was second at 902, followed by Drake (911), Creighton (924), UC Riverside (929) and South Dakota State (930).
MANHATTAN — A final-round 74 by Gideon Pienaar of the University of Central Arkansas golf team has given him the individual title at the 2010 Jim Colbert Intercollegiate championship in
The Bears won the tournament
BIG 12 GOLF
Associated Press
played, they create as many deceptive offensive options," he said. "So, we'll have to be very aware, defensively, I think."
Tate said that starting matches didn't change much for her, other than that she was warmed up. She has played with Mayfield and Garlington for years, and she said that contributed to a better connection between the setter and the hitters.
"That definitely helps out with our offense." Tate said.
As a St. Louis native, Tate said that the Border Showdown added significance.
"Just being from there, like, everyone I know goes Mizzou, so I'm really excited to go out and play against them," Tate said.
Bechard said that while the Border Showdown was exciting for both teams, the important point for the Jayhawks was to play well after a disappointing loss in Colorado.
Missouri has already scored a victory in Kansas this week, toppling Kansas State in Manhattan on Saturday. The Tigers evened out their
Big 12 record to 2-2 and improved to 10-4 overall. Missouri won in four sets, led by senior outside hitter Juliana Klein with 14 kills and junior middle hitter Brittney Brimage, who contributed 12 kills with a .346 efficiency. Like the Jayhawks, the Tigers opened the season with a seven-match winning streak, making it their best start since 2005. Freshman setter Molly Kreklow has been breaking school records for Missouri this year — leading the Big 12 in assists per set and earning Rookie of the Week honors earlier this month.
"I think, of the teams we've
Coach Ray Bechard said that Missouri offered one of the leagues most flexible offenses.
Kansas trails the all-time series with Missouri 49-32 and will have a chance on Wednesday to stop a reverse a five-match losing streak against the Tigers. The match will be televised on Metro Sports, Sunflower Broadband channel 37. Brenda VanLengen and former Jayhawk and KU's all-time digs leader Jill Dorsey will call the action.
- Edited By Clark Goble
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