Men’s basketball players big KU volleyball fans

As usual, several Kansas University basketball players figure to be in the Horejsi Center stands tonight when the Jayhawk volleyball team meets Texas in a 6:30 p.m., match. The winner moves into sole possession of first place in the Big 12.

Svi Mykhailiuk usually sits next to Devonté Graham at the matches.

“It’s going to be a pretty big game,” Mykhailiuk said of KU-Texas. “Texas and KU they are in first place. We’re going to win. They (Jayhawks) will be champions in the Big 12. It’s a pretty big game for KU volleyball.

“Yes,” Mykhailiuk added, asked if he loves attending the volleyball contests. “We go to all matches like football, soccer, volleyball, (women’s) basketball. I played soccer (in Ukraine). Volleyball is pretty famous, too.”

Other Jayhawks who normally attend the volleyball action include Jamari Traylor, Wayne Selden Jr., Cheick Diallo and Dwight Coleby to name a few.

“It’s an athletes supporting athletes type of deal. We see them a lot at our games,” said sophomore Ainise Havili. “We return the favor and support them in their sport.

“I played with Svi (Mykhailiuk), I think last summer. He is really good. I thought he’d be a lot worse. He has pretty good ball control. They are a lot better (volleyball players) than I thought they’d be,” Havili added, smiling of the hoopsters.

“They enjoy joking with us about volleyball,” said junior Cassie Wait, noting Joel Embiid liked to “come in and play with Tiana (Dockery) sometimes (in Horejsi Center). 

“They (Jayhawks) are always like, ‘Come play sand volleyball.’ It’s a fun, little ‘they think they can play it, too’ sort of thing. I think they like to think they can compete with us or it’d be fun to go out and play some sand in the summer  and compete in that sort of manner. Being able to support each other … it’s a whole Jayhawk thing,” Wait added.

— See what people were saying about the KU-Fort Hays State game during KUsports.com’s live coverage

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