Kansas Volleyball Scouting Report

For the second time in many years, Purdue volleyball heads to Lawrence to face an excellent Kansas squad. Both teams are undefeated through the first three weeks of the season and looking to make a statement. Last season, Purdue beat Kansas in front of an incredible crowd in a five-set thriller. Kansas returns a ton of talent and is looking to earn a huge non-conference victory over the sixth-ranked Boilermakers.

The Jayhawks return 5 of their top 6 hitters, although their one loss was standout Reagan Cooper. But despite the Cooper loss, this team remains excellent. Middle blocker Toyosi Onabanjo is outstanding and Ayah Elnady can produce at a high level. In the backcourt, they return Reagan Burns (#3) to play libero and bring in Heidi Devers (#12) who has been a good serves substitution.

Kansas Hitters

#17 - Ayah Elnady (OH1)

The returning senior was the Jayhawk's leading attacker last season and continues to impress. She has hit over .300 in her last three matches and has double-digit kills in all but one match this season. Purdue did a good job against her last season, holding her to .115 efficiency on 26 attacks (6 kills, 3 errors).

Elnady has great power on her attacks, often getting kills from blasting it off a defender. She likes to hit through the seam in the block or around the block to the cross-court. Kansas will use her a lot in transition or back row from the middle (BIC) or right side (D) of the court.

The outside also has an erratic but effective top spin serve that comes with heat. It is hard for passers to predict where she will hit which has led to her registering 15 aces this season. As a defender, I think Purdue should try to attack her as often as possible. She is not as rangy as other defenders and doesn't have great ball skills.

#14 - Caroline Bien (OH2)

As a junior, Caroline played a reserve role for most of the season but game off the bench to burn Purdue last season. She registered 17 kills on 29 attempts for a .448 efficiency(!). Now, the outside hitter is second behind Elnady in attack attempts and plays the ball handling, a defensive role for the Jayhawks. She is a reserved attacker, often using offspeed in non-ideal situations to throw the ball off the block. Overall, Kansas loves her defensive abilities and uses her a lot in transition.

#11 - Toyosi Onabanjo (MB1)

Onabanjo is an absolute stud for Kansas. She's one of the most flexible middle hitters in the country because she's so good at adjusting to any set. Kansas uses her to run a quick attack in front or behind, slide attacks, and gap sets. Her best attack is hitting the slide where she prefers hitting cross-court but can hit almost any shot. She is also very effective at running quick tempos because of how she's able to drive the ball deep into the court with pace.

She is not your ordinary middle blocker. Against Duke, Onabanjo had 22 kills (!!) with 5 blocks. She can do it at both ends and Kansas does a great job of getting her the ball in a variety of ways.

#21 - London Davis (Opp)

From the right side, London Davis has been a really good complement to Elnady and Onabanjo. As an attacked, Davis does a great job of attacking the ball high. She pushes defenders back with her ability to place shots on the back out-of-bounds line and she's able to play off of blockers hands. If that doesn't work, she has a beautiful tip that she uses if defenders are too far back.

The key for Purdue, is keeping Kansas out of system. Davis is not very mobile which makes her less effective when she has to adjust to different tempo sets or change her approach angle.

#13 - Zoey Burgess (MB2)

The freshman has come on early and taken the second middle block position next to Onabanjo. She was extremely effective against a good Marquette team but the set volume has been low for her next to the other talented Kansas hitters.

#22 - Camryn Turner (S)

Turner is one the most aggressive setters in the country. She is dangerous anytime she's in the front row and very crafty at finding different ways to surprise defenses. Her biggest weakness is as a blocker. She's smart with her blocks, but her size is something that Purdue can look to attack with their revamped right-side offense.

Some small tendencies, she loves to set the back row when teams tip the ball short to the net. She will flick the ball up to the back row quickly, usually Elnady. When she has to run off the net to set, she often leaves the attacker off which can force the attacker into ineffective attacks. Overall, she's a good setter with great chemistry with Davis and Onabanjo.

Keys for Purdue

1. Get balls deep into the back court to test Kansas's defenders.

2. Take every opportunity to attack Turner at the net and Elnady in the backcourt.

3. Continue to use the right side offense from Wollard and Colvin.

4. Win the three rotations that Onabanjo doesn't play.