The Wildcats had a tough weekend at the Creighton Classic ending 0-3 against Wisconsin, Arkansas and the Blue Jays, but they have a great opportunity to get some confidence back as they travel to Lawrence to face 12-0 Kansas.
“They are big, physical, athletic and well-coached,” head coach Suzie Fritz said at a press conference Tuesday. “We have to be good on our side of the net and control what we can to come out with a win.”
The ‘Cats are coming off a weekend that saw their six-game winning streak snapped and a three-game losing streak begin.
“I wish we had about a week to recover because there isn’t much turnaround time for us,” Fritz said. “It’s hard to stay rested, and we haven’t got much practice in lately. We are just trying to improve and stay focused right now.”
The Jayhawks have had no issues in the first dozen matches of the season and have won each match either in straight sets or in four sets.
Last season, these two teams split the season series as both teams lost on their home floor.
“For me, this is just the next match for us,” Fritz said. “Kansas is a very good team, and this is about as good of a Kansas team as I have seen in my time here.”
The two teams have had one common opponent this season: Arkansas.
The Hawks defeated the Razorbacks in four games while the Wildcats lost in five sets to Arkansas.
“They are a solid team and very good, but I also like to consider us pretty good, too,” Fritz said.
This past weekend, Brooke Sassin continued her solid play as she now has six consecutive double-doubles and a Big 12 best nine this season.
“The conference is very competitive this year, and it can be anyone’s game on any given day,” Sassin said. “We just need to keep playing our game and keep getting better.”
Fritz said she and her team are just taking it one game at a time and is ready for a new slate of the schedule as Big 12 play begins.
“We like to break up the season into segments, and conference plays a new part for us,” Fritz said. “Whether you like it or you don’t, the nonconference portion is over and now we need to focus on the first part of Big 12 play.”
K-State and Kansas tip-off tonight at 6:30 p.m. inside Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
