Balanced Offense Leads Kansas Volleyball to Victory Versus San Francisco
OMAHA, Neb. – – Redshirt freshman Caroline Jarmoc served up five aces and added six kills as the University of Kansas volleyball team swept San Francisco 3-0 Saturday morning during the Bluejay Invitational.
KU won by scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-18 to improve to 2-0 on the season. USF remains winless on the season at 0-2.
Jarmoc’s five aces were the most by a Jayhawk since Melissa Grieb scored five aces versus Kansas State on Oct. 1, 2008. As a team, Kansas recorded 11 service aces, its most since collecting 11 versus NC State back on Aug. 30, 2008.
“Serving was the key,” said KU head coach Ray Bechard. “We were outstanding with 11 aces and only four errors. That dictated the flow of the match. We also did a better job of controlling (USF’s) Sarah Mandala after the break and we had better offensive balance today. Jenna Kaiser got a good start and had some good out-of-system swings. That really helped us.”
Kaiser finished with nine kills on a .389 attack percentage. Senior Karina Garlington paced the KU offense with 11 kills, while junior Allison Mayfield also had double-digit kills with 10 to go along with three aces. The Jayhawks recorded 42 kills during the match compared to the Dons’ 29.
Jarmoc helped get things rolling for the Jayhawks in set one. The middle blocker served up three-straight aces to put KU ahead 8-3. USF stayed close until Kansas pulled away mid-set outscoring the Dons 11-2 for a commanding 23-14 lead. Freshman Jessie Allen recorded her first collegiate kill on set-point to give Kansas a 25-17 win in the opening frame.
The Jayhawks tallied seven of their 11 aces in the first set and also hit a match-high .333 attack percentage committing just three hitting errors.
In set two, Kansas played down for most of the first half of the frame. Trailing 16-14, the Jayhawks rattled off seven-straight points, jump started by a kill and solo block from freshman setter Kara Wehrs, to regain the lead at 21-16. KU coasted from there to its 25-19 win to take a 2-0 lead into the break. Kaiser tallied five of her nine kills in the second set.
After taking the early lead in set three, KU faltered slightly midway through as San Francisco caught up to the Jayhawks and knotted the score at 15-15. The teams tied three more times but at 18-18, Kansas put its foot on the gas and scored the final seven points to win 25-18. Garlington and Jarmoc had two kills a piece and combined for a block during the rally to help push KU to victory.
Kansas will play again tonight versus host Creighton at 7:30 p.m. to conclude play in the Bluejay Invitational.
