The Kansas volleyball team has its fingerprints all over the top 10 of this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association national poll.
Not only are the Jayhawks ranked No. 9 after their season-opening split with Baylor last weekend in Lawrence. But KU’s first two opponents of the 2020 season also currently occupy the top two spots in this week’s poll.
Baylor, which salvaged the weekend with a convincing win over KU in last Saturday, sits at No. 2, and this weekend’s opponent, Texas, is currently ranked No. 1.
The Longhorns enter their match with Kansas at 2-0 after a pair of victories at Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., last weekend.
UT’s attack was led by Logan Eggleston, who registered 35 kills, averaging five kills per set. Eggleston was joined by Skylar Fields (29) and Molly Phillips (21) as the only three to amass more than 20 kills. Jhenna Gabriel aided the UT offense, finishing with 95 assists in the two matches, including 58 assists in the second.
KU’s next two matches are slated for 7 p.m. starts on Thursday and Friday at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. Both will be shown on The Longhorn Network.
Texas leads the overall series with Kansas, 45-6, and has won three in a row, including the last 16 matches in Austin. The Longhorns are 23-1 against KU all-time in their home venue.
After their first road trip of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Jayhawks will return home to face West Virginia Oct. 9-10, for a pair of matches that, as of today, will be allowed to be played in front of a limited number of fans.