It’s not often a team can be compared to literature. But right now the Jayhawk volleyball team is looking like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The Jayhawks once again finished second at another non-conference tournament, this time at the Cowgirl Classic in Wyoming. Kansas lost to the University of Alabama at Birmingham after two thrilling victories on Friday night.

It’s been the only constant for the Jayhawks, who have played in three tournaments during the non-conference and have finished with a lone loss every time.

It’s those losses, though, that frustrate coach Ray Bechard, knowing what his team can become.

“We had a big let-down yesterday against UAB,” Bechard said. “I’m a little bit surprised by that, after we played so well Friday.”

It was on that Friday that the Jayhawks played their most thrilling match of the season, defeating Wyoming in their first five-set match of the year. Sophomore outside hitter Karina Garlington continued her impressive week, with a career-high 23 kills.

“We had a really good opportunity to win this tournament,” Garlington said. “So I decided to come out as strong as I could.”

Garlington, whose previous career high was 18 kills against UMKC last Tuesday, attributed her strong start to a better focus on the game and herself.

“My mind is really free. I’m not thinking about a whole lot,” Garlington said. “I’m really clear-headed.”

Bechard said he understood the improvement and worth of Garlington’s uprising.

“I think there’s a natural progression from freshman to sophomore,” Bechard said. “The game seems a little easier and slower.”

And for Garlington the game must have been in slow motion on Friday. Garlington made 44 kills in two games, including making 21 kills in a four-set victory against Cleveland State.

Besides Garlington’s play, the rest of the Jayhawks were no slouches on Friday. Senior middle blockers Natalie Uhart and Savannah Noyes finished with a season-high 15 kills each, with freshman Allison Mayfield’s 11-kill performance not far behind. The Jayhawks showed the offensive balance that they normally have in their victories.

But with every step forward Kansas took on Friday, it took one huge step back Saturday night against UAB.

The Jayhawks finished with a season-high 30 hitting errors, getting in one another’s way for the majority of the match and looking like a completely different team from the one from the previous night.

“We would of liked to, obviously, finish on a little bit higher note,” Bechard said. “We felt like we game played well. It was one of those days where everything we tried, and we tried a lot of different things, just didn’t work.”

The Jayhawks will get things clicking as their remaining schedule is reserved for Big 12 opponents, starting with a road game against Colorado on Wednesday.

“Everyone in the conference will be a huge struggle,” Bechard said. “We know it’s not going to be easy.”

— — Edited by Adam Mowder