Senior setter/right side hitter Emily Brown sees Kansas’ trip to Waco, Texas as more than just a chance to salvage a conference victory during a season that has gone south in a hurry. Kansas has lost five matches in a row and eight of its last nine, but tonight’s match against Baylor at 6:30 is the first of seven remaining matches for the Jayhawks.

“Seven more opportunities,” Brown said. “Our long-term goal is to make the NCAA tournament, and we still have plenty of opportunities to do that and to be above .500. It’s still our goal, and a totally-doable and attainable goal.”

While Brown remains hopeful, the team will need to play a brand of volleyball that has yet to be seen from Kansas this season if it wants to accomplish that goal. Kansas’ recent struggles have the team sitting at 10-13 and 3-10 in the Big 12. Kansas’s latest loss was a 3-2 defeat suffered at home on Saturday against Missouri. Coach Ray Bechard was pleased with his team’s fight against Missouri.

Bechard said the only option the team had was to show up everyday for practice and keep working.

“Hopefully, some of those five-game matches will turn in our favor,” Bechard said.

Kansas’ first match against Baylor was a five-game match that didn’t go the Jayhawks’ way. Kansas built a 2-1 lead in that match, but allowed Baylor to win games four and five and win 3-2. Baylor used its victory against Kansas as a springboard for a four-game winning streak. The Bears have followed up the victory in Lawrence with victories against Colorado, TCU and Texas Tech. Baylor is 13-10 and 5-7 in the Big 12. Brown said Kansas didn’t have to worry about finding motivation tonight.

“That’s a game we wish we could have back here,” Brown said.

Brown, a Baldwin City native, has put together a stellar senior campaign. Splitting time at the setter and right side hitter position, Brown has proven very versatile. She has recorded triple-doubles in six matches this season. Her latest came against Missouri on Saturday. Brown had 17 kills, 29 assists and 15 digs against the Tigers. With seven games left in her Kansas career, Brown is trying to stay positive.

“We have a couple more at home and we still have a chance,” Brown said.

—Edited by Luke Morris