Four Kansas University volleyball players will make a final appearance before a home crowd tonight, and a victory against Colorado would give those seniors a better chance to make a final appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Beating the Buffaloes won’t guarantee a postseason berth, but it would raise the hopes of a Jayhawk squad that has caught fire down the stretch. A victory tonight would move KU (8-11 Big 12 Conference, 17-11 overall) ahead of Colorado (9-10, 14-12) in the Big 12 standings.
Game time is 7 p.m. at Horejsi Center.
“It would be pretty huge,” KU coach Ray Bechard said. “The committee is looking at how you finish.”
Midway through Big 12 play, it appeared that the Jayhawks’ postseason aspirations were just that. But Bechard said a sense of urgency had pushed his team to victories in four of its last six matches — including a surprising victory over then-No. 13 Texas A&M.
KU’s recent success could stem from finally putting a full squad on the floor. The Jayhawks had been hindered by injuries during their midseason stretch.
“We’re as healthy as we’ve been all year, and that’s helped our rhythm,” Bechard said.
Colorado swept KU on Oct. 9 in Boulder, Colo. The Buffaloes rank fourth in the conference in kills per game, averaging 15.72. CU middle blocker Allie Griffin, who ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 4.17 kills per game, poses the biggest threat.
Colorado will be without another offensive threat, Maragda Santillana, because of injury.
Bechard said Colorado also had a balanced defensive game that gave up few points.
“They don’t make many mistakes,” Bechard said. “They’re not going to hand you a bunch of free points.”
Today’s match will the last at home for seniors Jill Dorsey, Ashley Michaels, Lindsey Morris and Bechard’s daughter, Ashley. The group of seniors, all Kansas natives, enjoyed the Jayhawks’ first NCAA Tournament last year.
But the Jayhawks can’t get too excited about possible postseason play without a victory against the Buffaloes.
KU will learn its postseason fate during the NCAA Tournament selection show, which will air at 5:45 p.m. Sunday on ESPNEWS (Sunflower Broadband channel 141).
