Through the Phog
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Kansas volleyball ready for NCAA tourney action

By Stan Unruh

OKLAHOMA CITY - MARCH 18: The Kansas Jayhawks mascot points in the first half of the game against the Bucknell Bison in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship on March 18, 2005 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY - MARCH 18: The Kansas Jayhawks mascot points in the first half of the game against the Bucknell Bison in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship on March 18, 2005 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas Volleyball team is set to open NCAA tournament play. Ray Bechard’s Jayhawks open with a Border-War matchup.

The Kansas Volleyball team opened the 2017 season as one of the nation’s top ranked teams. There were many expectation for this team. They started the season strong on a road trip at North Carolina State. On Labor Day weekend they shut out a very good Kentucky team.

The team that beat those ‘Cats on September 4, is the team I expect to see when Ray Bechard’s Jayhawks play another Southeastern Conference team to open NCAA tourney play. The Jayhawks face the girls from Columbia, Missouri on Friday in Wichita.  Some of the faces are different but the two teams  know each other.

In 2015, the Jayhawks faced Mizzou in the second round of NCAA play. Kansas fans remember how that ended. The victory was just another step on the Jayhawks way to the NCAA final four.  Border war showdown or not, I think it’s a great sign.  Bring on the Tigers.

This Kansas volleyball team earned Big 12 honors all season. As a matter of fact, five of them are on Big 12 post season conference teams including two on the All Big 12 first team. Then there is Ainise Havili. The senior earned Setter of the Year for the third straight season.

Next: Kansas basketball: Pressure builds with jump in polls

This Jayhawk team struggled in the final weeks of the regular season. That is history. This team came within a whisker of beating Texas in a five-set thriller on October 11. I expect to see that Jayhawk team in the NCAA tournament. I’m glad they open post season play in Wichita.  I expect this amazing group of seniors to bring a trip to the round of 16 home to Lawrence.

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