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SPORTS / THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
Frem We Sin at We Sin
c a q y E K
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Freshman defensive specialist Jaime Mathieu bumps the ball off of a serve during a game earlier this month. The team has a 10-4 overall record.
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VOLLEYBALL
Jayhawks can't shuck Huskers
Strong first set can't save the Jayhawks' game
BY IAN CUMMINGS icummings@kansan.com
Senior outside hitters Jenna Kaiser and Karina Garlington led the Jayhawks with 11 kills each in a four set loss against the Nebraska Cornhuskers Wednesday night in Lincoln, Neb. Freshman libero Brianne Riley - the Big 12's rookie of the week - had the most digs of any player in the match with 18.
The Jayhawks came out strong in the first set, winning 25-21.
up six kills with an efficiency of .556
in her second start of the season, junior setter Nicole Tate posted 15 of her season-high 42 assists in the first set, while Garlington scored four kills. Kansas bested Nebraska's hitting efficiency in that set. .243 to .133, helped out by Kaiser, who raked
Kaiser said that the team had been working very hard in practice. "I feel like it was a great night," she said. "We were just really confident and really strong. We were disciplined."
Nebraska won the second and third sets 13-25 and 18-25, respectively. Nebraska came out in the second set with a much-improved hitting efficiency of .464, and only
The second set did not go as well, and the Jayhawks were never able to get a lead over the Cornhuskens for the remainder of the match. Coach Ray Bechard said that winning the first set against Nebraska presented its own challenges. "The issue with that is, you've got to repeat that effort," he said. "We just erred a little bit too much."
committed one hitting error. Early in the game, a five-point run by the Cornhuskers left the Jay Hawks behind 3-9, and the Jay Hawks were never able to catch up. The Jay Hawks' offensive efforts missed the mark, and the Cornhuskers finished off the set with a 5-1 run.
"I feel like the other side just stepped it up. They were more aggressive."
Redshirt freshman Caroline Jarmoc attributed the squad's success in the first set to good passing and good play from the first touch. In the second set, she said, Nebraska responded differently. "I feel like the other side just stepped it up," she said. "They were more aggressive."
CAROLINE JARMOC Redshirt freshman
The third set featured a late effort by Kansas to hold off Nebraska's set point three times before it ended 18-25. The Jayhawks out-scored the Cornhuskers 8-5 in that last stretch
of the game, but couldn't overcome a slow start and nine attack errors. In the back row, Riley helped her team defend against Nebraska, coming up with seven digs in the set.
Jarmoc said that Riley made some amazing
plays in the match. "Sometimes I thought the ball was down," she said. "And then I would look up and it's in the air."
The Jayhawks stayed within four points of the Cornhuskers for most of the third match, as neither team was able to string together more than a few points at a time. At 17-21, Nebraska pulled away with a combination of blocks, kills and aces. Senior libero Kayla Banwarth scored an ace to end the set and the match 18-25. Overall, Nebraska out-hit Kansas .252 to .138 in terms of efficiency and 57-50 in terms of total kills.
The loss leaves Kansas 10-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The Jayhawks will play on the road at the Colorado Buffaloos on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
MLB
— Edited by Michael Bednar
White Sox claim victory, end slump
ASSOCIATED PRESS
OAKLAND, Calif. — Mark Teahen hit a go-ahead double with two outs in the ninth right after pinch-hitter Mark Kotsay's tying RBI single and the Chicago White Sox rallied past the Oakland
Athletics 4-3 on Wednesday to end a season-worst eight game skid.
Juan Pierre stole his majors-leading 60th base with a steal of home in the eighth to make it 3-2. Pierre moved into 30th place on the all-time steals list with 519 and into second on Chicago's career single-season list.
Matt Thornton (4-4) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win. Chris Sale recorded the final out for his third save in as many tries, striking out pinch-hitter Steve Tolleson to end it with runners on first and second.
The White Sox were eliminated from AL Central contention Tuesday night with a 7-2 loss, which clinched the division for the Minnesota Twins.
On a day four of Oakland's top relievers weren't available, Brett Anderson went 6 2-3 innings. He allowed one run on six hits, struck out one and walked one. Ziegler hasn't converted a save in four chances this year.
White Sox starter Edwin Jackson's winless stretch reached four starts since a victory at Cleveland on Aug. 31. Chicago's starters are 0-9 over their past 17 games.