Sept. 30, 2016  vs.  |
(RV) Baylor (14-4, 2-0) vs. #8 Kansas (12-2, 1-1)
Oct. 1, 2016 | 1:00 p.m. CT
Lawrence, Kan. | Horseji Center
TV: ESPN 3
 Listen($) | Live Stats | Baylor Match Notes
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By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Foundation Having already knocked off a pair of current or former top 25 teams, Baylor volleyball (14-4, 2-0) gets its biggest test of the season in Saturday's 1 p.m. matchup at No. 8 Kansas (12-2, 1-1) in Lawrence, Kan.
After going 30-3 and reaching the Final Four last season for the first time in program history, the Jayhawks reeled off 10 straight wins before losing to a pair of ranked teams in a span of nine days.
"Challenges are where you grow, adversity is what makes you stronger," Baylor coach Ryan McGuyre said, "and this is definitely a great challenge this weekend. . . . Kansas is a great team, they return some incredible athletes. There's a reason they're ranked top 10 in the country."
The Jayhawks returned three first-team All-Big 12 players in 6-3 junior rightside hitter Kelsie Payne, senior middle blocker Taylor Soucie and junior Ainise Havili, the Big 12 Setter of the Year.
Payne, averaging 3.8 kills per set, could be a particularly tough matchup for the Bears after losing 6-3 redshirt freshman middle Jaelyn Jackson with a knee injury. Junior transfer Camryn Freiberg (5-11) and freshman Nicole Thomas (6-1) don't have the size to put up a brick wall like Jackson.
"Nicole has different strengths than Jaelyn has, so it's a matter of expediting her strengths," McGuyre said of Thomas, who has averaged 1.05 kills per set in limited action. "We have to do it in a way where we're not beating her up for it, because she's learning at a great pace, but you can't speed up experience for her."
Baylor's attack counters with 6-1 junior outside hitter Katie Staiger, the reigning Big 12 and AVCA National Player of the Year after recording 23 kills in a three-set sweep of then-No. 23 Kansas State last Sunday. She leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally with 5.56 kills per set.
"We've had to be creative all year in how to slow down some opponents' strengths," McGuyre said. "With some of our injuries, we're not as physical as we need to be. So, it takes a little extra grind and creativity. Heading into this match, we've got to be great in all the little things we do in order to give ourselves a chance to win." Riding a 10-game winning streak, the Bears can match the school record set by the 2009 team when they won their first 11 and ended up advancing to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
"The on-court interactions, regardless of the results we're getting, are at a championship level," McGuyre said. "So, we're communicating like a championship team. Are we executing and playing very clean yet? No, not at all. But, there's a good foundation there for what we're doing. Now, we're playing team volleyball, we're seeing the same things, we're moving together as a team, and we're trusting one another as a team."
Saturday's match will be held at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center and will be broadcast by ESPN3. Live stats are available at KUAthletics.com.
WACO, Texas - Baylor volleyball (14-4, 1-1) continues through a steep stretch of conference competition, facing the No. 8 Kansas Jayhawks (12-2, 1-1) on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. in Lawrence, Kan., the first Big 12 road match of the season for the Bears.
BU rides a 10-match win streak into the match, the best streak in the Big 12 and the fourth-longest active streak in the country.
After securing its first win over a ranked opponent since 2012, the Baylor squad can continue knocking down recent history marks, with the chance to take the program to its first 3-0 start to conference play since 2008.
Additionally, a win over the 8th-ranked Jayhawks would be the first road win over a ranked opponent since 2011, when BU knocked off No. 25 Oklahoma.
Baylor carries a 22-21 advantage in the all-time series between the squads, despite trailing 8-14 in matches in Lawrence.
Saturday's match will air on ESPN3.com and the WatchESPN app, with Leil Lisef (pxp) and Jill Hall (color) providing the on-air talent.
For this and all other Baylor road matches, fans can tune into the live internet audio broadcast on BaylorBears.com/allaccess.
Keep up with the team all season long by following Baylor Volleyball's official accounts on Twitter (@BaylorVball), Facebook (Baylor Volleyball), Instagram (@BaylorVolleyball), and Snapchat (@BaylorVball).
MATCH INFO:
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. CT
Horseji Center | Lawrence, Kan.
Audio: BaylorBears.com (Paid)
Talent: Jonathan Hill
TV: ESPN3.com / WatchESPN App
Talent: Leil Lisef (pxp) and Jill Hall (color)
Live Stats: KUAthletics.com
BAYLOR BEARS
2015 Record: 17-13
2016 Record: 14-4
2016 Big 12 Record: 2-0
Head Coach: Ryan McGuyre (2nd season)
All-Time Record vs. KU: 22-21
All-Time Record vs. KU in LAWRENCE: 8-14
KANSAS JAYHAWKS
2015 Record: 30-3
2016 Record: 12-2
2016 Big 12 Record: 1-1
Head Coach: Ray Bechard (19th season)
#SicEm
