Sophomore setter Nicole Tate attempts to knock the ball over the net before being blocked by a Texas player. The Longhorns out-blocked the Jayhawks 17-3 at the net during Wednesday's match. Kansas lost in three sets and is now 2-7 in Big 12 play.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Kansas volleyball team split its two games during Fall Break.
Kansas faced No. 2 Texas, the third ranked team in a row, on Wednesday, and was swept 0-3 (16-25, 22-25, 12-25) for the fourth time in a row. Kansas fell to 9-8, 2-6 in conference play, while Texas stayed undefeated at 13-0, 8-0 in conference play.
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Kansas vs. Texas volleyball
The Jayhawks lost 3-0 to the Texas Longhorns Wednesday night at the Horseji Family Athletics Center. After the loss, Kansas moved to 9-8 on the season and 2-6 in Big 12 play.
Kansas didn’t always execute well, which Texas took advantage of, coach Ray Bechard said.
“When you start to lack at any phase execution wise, this team will make you pay for it,” he said.
Kansas didn’t have a single player with double-digit kills, but senior middle blocker Brittany Williams made nine kills and managed a .467 hitting percentage.
Across the net, possible national player of the year Destinee Hooker racked up 18 kills and a .429 hitting average.
Hooker is probably the best player that Kansas will see all year, junior outside hitter Karina Garlington said.
Kansas led Texas 10-9 in the first set, but Texas scored seven of the next eight to gain a commanding lead. Kansas could never recover and, with its eight errors, lost the set 16-25.
Kansas again came out strong again in the second set and took an early 7-5 lead. Texas then scored the next four in a row to retake the lead. The Jayhawks didn’t let the run discourage them, and retook the lead at 13-12. Texas fought back and ultimately Kansas lost the set 22-25.
Kansas started off the third set abysmally, letting Texas get out to a 1-7 lead. Things didn’t get much better as Texas showed its true power with a .520 hitting percentage in the third set, defeating Kansas 12-25, the team’s worst defeat in a set this season.
Kansas broke its losing streak after sweeping once ranked Kansas State 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-22) in Manhattan on Saturday.
The victory was Kansas’ first since September and its first Big 12 Conference road victory of the season.
Kansas improved to 10-8, 3-6 in conference play, while Kansas State dropped to 7-11, 1-7 in conference play.
After being ranked early in the season, Kansas State has been struggling. Kansas State was on a seven-game losing streak before defeating Oklahoma, the game before Kansas.
Kansas played well at the end of tight sets, which is something Kansas has been trying to do all season, Bechard said. He said the team played consistently and aggressivly when it needed to.
“I was pleased with the way were consistent all the way through, and at the end game we made some aggressive plays,” Bechard said.
Sophomore setter Nicole Tate said the team was well prepared for Kansas State.
“The team just did phenomenal,” Tate said. “We did an amazing job passing, the hitters put the balls away and we were just flat out ready for them.”
Kansas and Kansas State were back and forth to start the first set, but after being tied 9-9, Kansas never trailed again and won the set 25-21.
Kansas continued to play well in the second set and never trailed winning the set 25-21.
Kansas came out strong in the third set and gained a 15-10 lead over Kansas State, but Kansas State then went on a run and to take a lead at 20-22. Kansas then went on to score the last five in a row to win the set 25-22.
It was the first time Kansas defeated Kansas State since 2006 and just the third victory against Kansas State since 1995. The victory also gave Bechard his 900th career victory.
— Edited by Amanda Thompson
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