Volleyball Makes It Four In a Row With Win Over CSU

LARAMIE, Wyo. – Powered by sophomore Karina Garlington’s 21 kills, the University of Kansas volleyball team picked up its fourth-straight victory with a 3-1 win over Cleveland State here Friday night in the Cowgirl Classic. KU, now 6-2 overall, defeated CSU (1-7) by scores of 28-30, 25-12, 26-24 and 25-14.

The match marks Garlington’s second-straight contest with 20-plus kills as she had a career-best 23 kills earlier in the day against Wyoming. Her .436 hitting percentage also led the team. Freshman Corrinne Stringer added a career-best seven kills in the match.

Sophomore Melissa Manda tied her season high digging up 15 balls in the Jayhawks’ back court.

After holding a 20-12 lead in set one, CSU turned the momentum around going on an 11-3 run to close the gap and eventually tying the contest at set point. The teams traded points until the Vikings’ Liz Fazio tallied back-to-back kills giving CSU a 30-28 victory.

In set two, Kansas made sure not to let go of its lead using a 7-1 run followed shortly after by another 7-2 advantage to pull well out of CSU’s reach en route to a 25-12 win.

The Jayhawks improved their hitting efficiency going from a .118 attack percentage in the opening stanza to .324 hitting in the second set committing just one attack error. Garlington, Paige Mazour and Corrinne Stringer all contributed three kills a piece for KU.

Kansas made a huge comeback to win set three. Trailing 15-7, the Jayhawks went on a 7-1 run capped by three kills from Garlington to come within two at 16-14. KU continued to chip away at the deficit eventually tying the score at 20-20. Finally, a block from Natalie Uhart and Garlington gave the Jayhawks set point at 26-24.

KU made quick work of the Vikings in the fourth and final set rattling off 10 unanswered points for a healthy lead that CSU would never overcome.

The Jayhawks return to action tomorrow night in a 6 p.m. (CDT) match with UAB. Live stats will be available at www.kuathletics.com.