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Volleyball suffers big loss to Oklahoma

Members of the Jayhawk varsity rowing team catch their breath after crossing the finish line at the 2009 Big 12 Rowing Championship.

Members of the Jayhawk varsity rowing team catch their breath after crossing the finish line at the 2009 Big 12 Rowing Championship.

By Zach Getz

Monday, November 9, 2009

The Kansas volleyball team’s recent success on the road came to a screeching halt Saturday as Kansas was swept 3-0 at Oklahoma.

Even though Kansas defeated Oklahoma in their first meeting, Kansas could not get on track in the rematch as Kansas suffered one of its biggest losses of the season.

Kansas at Oklahoma

Kansas 17, 16, 13

Oklahoma 25, 25, 25



Up next

vs. Kansas State

When: 6:30p.m. Nov. 11

Where: Horejsi Family Athletic Center

“We ran into a team that has been playing very well as of late, and we tried a lot of different things, but we just didn’t have an answer for what Oklahoma had going on,” coach Ray Bechard said.

Kansas was never able to get into a rhythm, which is rare for the team, junior outside hitter Karina Garlington said.

“We couldn’t get anything going,” Garlington said. “Our passes aren’t connecting with our setter, our setter wasn’t connecting with our hitters and our hitters weren’t putting balls away.”

Garlington said the night was frustrating for Kansas. She said she didn’t understand why no one was able to get into a rhythm.

“We waited around to see what Oklahoma was going to do, and when they pushed at us we didn’t push back,” Garlington said. “Everyone was waiting for someone else to step up, and we need to hold each other accountable.”

Sophomore outside hitter Allison Mayfield led Kansas for the fourth-straight match in kills with 12 kills while senior libero Melissa Grieb led Kansas for the fourth-straight match in digs with 14 digs.

Sophomore setter Nicole Tate said she hoped the team would use this loss as motivation for the next match.

“I’ll definitely have a fire in my belly, and I hope the rest of the team does because we have to get back on track and win some matches,” Tate said.

Kansas and Oklahoma traded points for most of the first set, but after being tied 12-12, Oklahoma scored nine of the next 10 to take a commanding lead. Kansas could never recover and lost the set 17-25.

Oklahoma came out strong in the second set and took a 10-2 lead early on. Oklahoma never let up and Kansas lost the set 16-25.

Kansas started the third set well and took a 6-2 lead early, but Oklahoma quickly tied the set at 6-6. Things became worse for Kansas, which had 10 errors for the set, and Oklahoma won the set 25-13.

Kansas fell to 13-11 (5-9) for the season while Oklahoma improved to 17-7 (10-5). Kansas will have a chance to defeat K-State twice in one season for the first time during Big 12 Conference play on Wednesday when Kansas hosts Kansas State.

— Edited by Alicia Banister

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