KU Opens Second Half of Big 12 Play Against Aggies
After enjoying a Wednesday bye, Kansas volleyball will look to keep its win streak alive Saturday night when it travels to Texas A&M. The Jayhawks (10-9, 3-7 Big 12) are coming off home wins over Kansas State and Baylor while the Aggies (9-9, 2-8) are trying to stop a two-match skid. First serve at G. Rollie White Coliseum in College Station, Texas, is set for 6:30 p.m. Live stats and video streaming, a recap and box score for the match can be found right here.
About the Jayhawks
The Jayhawks (10-9, 3-7) are averaging 16.21 kills and 15.03 assists per game, which rank third in the Big 12. Senior outside hitter Jana Correa paces a balanced KU offense with 4.24 kills per game — good for sixth in the league — and has recorded 14 or more kills in 16 matches this season. Correa recently became the ninth Jayhawk in school history to record 1,000 kills for her career and currently ranks ninth on the KU all-time list. Junior right side hitter Emily Brown (3.62 kpg), a threat in all six rotations, and sophomore middle blocker Savannah Noyes (3.26 kpg) round out the top KU hitters. Redshirt freshman setter Katie Martincich averages 11.87 assists per game and ranks eighth in the league. KU's defense features senior libero Jamie Mathewson (3.56 dpg) and four Jayhawks who average 2.29 or more digs per game. KU also gets a boost from rookie middle blocker Brittany Williams, who replaced injured Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Natalie Uhart in the starting lineup.
Scouting the Aggies
The Aggies are 9-9 overall and 2-8 in Big 12 action and looking to stop a two-match losing streak. TAMU lists eight freshmen on its 15-member roster, and five have seen action in more than half of the Aggies' matches. Rookie outside hitter Mary Batis leads A&M and ranks 10th in the Big 12 with 3.76 kills per game. Batis has started every match on the left side and taken team-high honors in kills in eight matches, including a team season-high 21 kills against No. 22 Minnesota and Texas Tech. Junior middle blocker Kelly Stanton is ranked eighth in the Big 12 with 1.35 blocks per game and adds 2.07 kpg for the Aggies. Senior middle blocker Christi Hahn, a preseason All-Big 12 selection and third-year starter, leads the team with a .387 hitting percentage and ranks second with 3.41 kills per game. Aggie freshman setter Courtnee Rhodes is dishing 10.65 assists per game and earned her first career start against Kansas on Sept. 20.
Kansas vs. Texas A&M
The Aggies lead the all-time series, 18-4, with all four of the Jayhawks' victories coming in Lawrence over the past four seasons. Three Jayhawks totaled 22 or more kills when Kansas defeated Texas A&M, 3-2, Sept. 20 in Lawrence. Senior Jana Correa and junior Emily Brown led all players with 24 kills apiece — both KU season highs — while sophomore Savannah Noyes was close behind with a career-high 22 and team-best .385 hitting efficiency on the night. Correa also led the Jayhawk defense with a career-best 20 digs and Brown added 16. KU totaled five-game season highs in kills (87) and attack percentage (.233) as it ended a three-match losing streak.
Crimson and Blue Bits
-Senior Jana Correa has tallied 14 or more kills in 16 of KU's 19 matches this season. In fact, she has had exactly 14 kills in six matches and 10 or more digs on 10 occasions. Correa notched a season-best 24 kills against Texas A&M on Sept. 20 and a career-high 23 digs versus K-State on Oct. 11.
~Junior Emily Brown has notched 20 or more kills on five occasions and has nine double-doubles (kills/digs) this season. Brown recorded a rare triple-double against UMKC on Aug. 29 — 12 kills, 10 assists and 10 digs.
KU will close out the month of October with home matches against No. 23 Oklahoma (Oct. 25) — live on Metro Sports — and Texas Tech (Oct. 28).
Jayhawks to Dig For the Cure
On Saturday, Oct. 28, the University of Kansas volleyball team will help the fight against breast cancer in a "Dig for the Cure" match. The Jayhawks will host Texas Tech in a Big 12 Conference contest at 7 p.m. and raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation through pledges for digs and other donations. Fans in attendance are encouraged to wear pink to show their support for the cause. Volunteers will also be on hand to collect donations and a running total of KU digs will be announced after each game. The Jayhawks have been out collecting pledges for digs and helping raise awareness and recognition for the foundation throughout October — National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Match Notes in PDF Format
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