Volleyball, soccer gearing for matches

Kansas University fans won’t have to choose between attending tonight’s volleyball match at Horejsi Center or “Late Night in the Phog.”

Those attending the 7 p.m. match against Iowa State (10-9 overall, 2-7 Big 12 Conference) will receive bracelets allowing them to sit in a reserved section of seats at Allen Fieldhouse and attend both events.

If history repeats itself, the match should be over in plenty of time for fans to head next door because the Jayhawks (12-7, 4-4) have won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Cyclones.

Two other KU squads will hit the road this weekend.

The Kansas soccer team will face the Big 12’s top two teams when it plays at 4:30 p.m. today at No. 12 Colorado (11-1-1, 4-0-1) and 1 p.m. Sunday at No. 16 Nebraska (9-3-1, 4-1-0).

“If we can get results against these guys it’s really worth double to us,” KU coach Mark Francis said, “because it’s three points (in the standings) that we get and three points that they don’t get.”

Both games have huge implications on fifth-place Kansas’ NCAA Tournament hopes, but the Jayhawks (11-3-1, 3-2-1) will be playing without freshman midfielder Michelle Rasmussen. A starter for the last nine games, Rasmussen broke her leg against Missouri and will miss the rest of the season.

“She played really well, so those are big shoes to fill,” said freshman Lacey Novak, who scored the game-winner against Missouri and will be one of a few Jayhawks filling Rasmussen’s spot. “This weekend’s going to be a huge chance for us to prove ourselves to everyone.”

The KU swimmers begin a two-day trip through Iowa today at the Big 12 Relays in Ames. They will race again Saturday against Iowa and Northern Iowa in Iowa City.