Listen Live As UMKC Takes On KU In Volleyball Action Tonight At 6:30
9/4/2012 12:45:00 PM | Volleyball
The Kangaroos will open the week, heading to Lawrence, Kan., to take on
the Jayhawks at Horejsi Family Athletics Center at 6:30 p.m. The match
will mark a homecoming for both Head Coach Christi Posey and Assistant
Coach Trent Jones. Posey returns to Kansas after serving as the
Jayhawks' top assistant for eleven seasons, while Jones was a volunteer
assistant from 2002-04. Live stats and live audio for each match can be
viewed at www.umkckangaroos.com, while live video can be purchased
through the Kansas athletics website.
The Opponent
Kansas enters the match with a 5-1 record after sweeping the Kansas
Volleyball Invitational last weekend with wins over Sam Houston State,
Tulsa and Arkansas State. Redshirt junior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc
was named the Tournament MVP after a weekend of incredible numbers. The
Calgary, Alberta, Canada native averaged more than four kills per set
using a .506 attack percentage. Equally lethal on defense, Jarmoc
tallied 18 blocks over the weekend, including a career-high tying nine
against Arkansas State in the Kansas Invitational title match. Overall,
the All-Big 12 Preseason Team selection leads the team with 3.76 kills
and 1.43 blocks per set, while her .422 hitting percentage ranks second
in the Big 12.
Last Time Out
Last weekend, the 'Roos finished the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic in second
place with a 3-1 record. On Friday, UMKC knocked off Bethune-Cookman
and Florida Gulf Coast by identical 3-0 scores, before downing George
Washington, 3-2, after trailing 0-2, in Saturday's opener. The
Kangaroos then fell to Wyoming, 3-0 in the tournament finale.
Miller and Muff Named To UniWyo Cowgirl Classic.
Freshmen Taryn Miller and Skyler Muff were each awarded a place on the
UniWyo Cowgirl Classic All-Tournament Team. Miller led the team in digs
in each of the four matches, totaling 70 at 5.00 digs per set clip,
while also adding a team-high six aces. Muff, meanwhile, notched 28
kills, including a team-high 14 in the comeback win over George
Washington, while adding six blocks and four aces.
Series History
The Jayhawks hold a 17-0 all-time record against the 'Roos in Division I
play, including a 3-0 win on Aug. 31, 2010 in the last meeting.
Overall, KU holds a 29-1 advantage.
Lucas Named To UNT Invite All-Tourney Team
Senior outside hitter Emily Lucas was named to the North Texas
Invitational All-Tournament Team following the event. In the
tournament, the Sublette, Kan., native recorded a team-high 42 kills,
and was second on the team with 35 digs. The accolade is the second
all-tournament honor for Lucas after being named to the Black Knights
Invitational All-Tournament Team last season.
Last Season
In 2011, the Kangaroos finished the season with an overall record of
12-17 and a 6-12 mark in Summit League play to place eighth in the
standings. The 'Roos, however, closed out the season winning six of
eight league games, including five straight. During the course of the
season, the squad finished 3-0 at a preseason tournament for the first
time since 2002, while five separate players made all-tournament teams.
Summit League Preseason Poll
The Kangaroo volleyball team was picked to finish seventh in The Summit
League's annual preseason poll in a vote by the league's head coaches.
The 'Roos, who finished the 2011 season with a 12-17 record overall and a
6-12 mark in league play, garnered 23 points overall to finish just
behind South Dakota.
Senior Leaders
The UMKC volleyball will feature a quartet of seniors this season who
will provide leadership to the eight newcomers on this year's squad.
Leading the way for the 'Roos in their final seasons are Ella Meier,
Emily Lucas, Brittany Fossier and Brittney Robers.
Fresh Faces
The 2012 Kangaroos include eight newcomers, seven of whom are freshman.
Sophomore Morgan Voorhes is the only non-freshman first year 'Roo after
transferring from Pittsburgh State, while redshirt freshman Sydney
Crimmins joins the squad after spending a year with the Kangaroo
basketball program. The remaining freshmen consist of Lindsay Zych,
Taryn Miller, Emma Hagedorn, Nicole Wemhoff, Jessica Hendin and Skyler Muff.
Kansas City Feel
The 2012 edition of the Kangaroo volleyball team will have a distinct
Kansas City feel to it as six student-athletes come from the area,
including Lindsay Zych (Lenexa, Kan.), Taryn Miller (Blue Springs, Mo.),
Emma Hagedorn (Parkville, Mo.), Nicole Wemhoff (Kansas City, Mo.),
Morgan Voorhes (Overland Park, Kan.) and Jessica Hendin (Overland Park,
Kan.). Three others, Sydney Crimmins (Clay Center, Kan.), Emily Lucas
(Sublette, Kan.) and Skyler Muff (Pittsburgh, Kan.) are from Kansas.