Volleyball Falls In Three In Season Opener
RICHMOND, Va. – Freshman Allison Mayfield led all players with 11 kills in her collegiate debut as Virginia Commonwealth swept the Kansas volleyball team, 3-0, in the Jayhawks’ season opener.
Kansas becomes 0-1 with the loss, while VCU improves to 2-0 during the VCU Invitational.
Sophomore Melissa Manda also opened the year with double digits digging up 11 balls in the KU back court.
Sophomore Karina Garlington added nine kills for the Jayhawks, as senior Natalie Uhart contributed seven more on a team-best .500 hitting efficiency (7K-1E-12TA). Newcomer Nicole Tate ran the KU offense with 23 assists.
In the opening set, Kansas fell behind early trailing by as much as nine, but the Jayhawks were able to string together an 8-1 run to come within two of the Rams at 18-16. KU stayed within four points for the remainder of the set but never could catch VCU. The teams traded points down the final stretch but it was VCU that reached game point first winning 25-22.
KU took the first lead the next time around in the second set. VCU soon caught up at 11 to tie the game and eventually took over the lead. The Jayhawks came back to tie it five more times including at 25-25, but a KU service error followed by an attack error helped give the Rams the win and a 2-0 leading heading into the break.
Mayfield collected six kills in the second set after posting three and a .400 attack percentage in the opening stanza.
VCU’s 8-1 run to open the third set was enough to keep the Rams ahead for rest of the game. At one point, the momentum looked as though it might swing in the Jayhawks’ favor as Kansas went on a 5-2 run in the middle of the set aided by a pair of kills from junior Katie Martincich as the Jayhawks trailed 21-17. However, the Rams’ offense didn’t falter as their .351 hitting efficiency help put KU away 25-19 for the victory.
Kansas returns to the court tomorrow for a contest with NC State (0-2) beginning at noon. Live stats will be available via gametracker at kuathletics.com.
