Volleyball Opens Season With 3-1 Win At Arkansas
Sept. 1, 2004
Fayetteville, Ark. –
The University of Kansas volleyball team started the 2004 season off right Wednesday night with a 3-1 win over Arkansas at Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. The Jayhawks used a balanced offensive attack to win 30-20, 30-26, 23-30 and 30-25, giving the Lady Razorbacks their first-ever home-opening loss.
A total of five Jayhawks tallied eight or more kills in the win. Junior middle blocker Josi Lima led the way with 15 kills and added 12 digs and five service aces. Senior middle blocker Ashley Michaels added 11 kills in 19 attempts for a match-best .526 hitting percentage.
Outside hitters Jana Correa (sophomore) and Paula Caten (junior-transfer) added 10 and nine kills, respectively, while freshman opposite hitter Emily Brown had eight kills and 10 digs. Senior libero Jill Dorsey led the defense with 18 digs and junior setter Andi Rozum dished out a match-high 44 assists.
The Jayhawks, who finished 11th in the Big 12 Conference in blocking last year, posted an impressive 14.0 total blocks and held Arkansas to just a .158 hitting percentage on the night. Michaels led the blocking effort with eight block assists.
Freshman Jessica Dorell led Arkansas with 15 kills in 39 attempts. Defensive specialist Chelsey Warmack posted a match-high 20 digs for the Lady Razorbacks.
“We played very well and blocked some balls tonight,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “It was a tough environment and a quality win for us tonight.”
Kansas (1-0) finished the 2003 season 22-11 overall and 13-7 in the Big 12 while Arkansas went 27-7 overall and 15-1 (first place) in the Southeastern Conference. Both teams advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
From Fayetteville, the Jayhawks will head straight to Tulsa, Okla., for a three-match tournament at Oral Roberts. Kansas will face Loyola-Chicago Friday at 5 p.m. and North Texas (10 a.m. ) and the host Golden Eagles (7 p.m.) on Saturday.
