Jayhawks Down Colorado To Even Conference Record

LAWRENCE, Kan. – JuniorKarina Garlington recorded a team-high 15 kills to lead three players with double-digit kills, as the University of Kansas defeated Colorado 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19) to even its score to 2-2 in the Big 12 and improve its overall record to 9-4. CU dropped to 5-9 on the season and remains winless in conference action with an 0-5 mark.

Head coach Ray Bechard is now just one win away from reaching 900 career wins.

Senior Paige Mazour contributed 13 kills on a team-best .550 attack percentage in the victory, while sophomore Allison Mayfield had 10 kills. Mayfield also added 10 digs to mark her third career double-double.

Despite recording two less kills than Colorado in the first set with 14, KU hung on to eek out a 25-23 win. With tied scores at 21, 22 and 23, Mayfield came up with a decisive kill before Mazour and Lauren Hagan combined for the set-winning block.

The Jayhawks swung at a match-high .345 attack percentage in the opening frame. The Kansas offense was controlled by sophomore setter Nicole Tate, who finished with 45 assists and 12 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.

In the second set, the Buffaloes took over at 11-10 and never trailed again, despite KU coming within one point at 19-18 and 21-20.

Kansas was able to stay ahead throughout the third set. CU knotted the score at eight, nine and 10 but never pushed closer than that as the Jayhawks cruised to a 25-19 win behind five kills a piece from Garlington and Mazour.

In the fourth and final frame, Kansas rattled off eight unanswered points to take a commanding 19-10 lead with the help of three service aces from Tate. Colorado did not give up easily however, as the Buffs battled back to within three at 21-18. KU used an ace from junior Melissa Manda and a huge solo block from freshman Tayler Tolefree to power the Jayhawks to a 25-19 set and match victory.

Manda led the team with 21 digs, her second 20-plus dig performance of the season. Tolefree finished with five total blocks along with Mazour.

Senior Melissa Grieb aided the Kansas defense with a season-high 12 digs.

KU begins a two-match road swing this Saturday, Oct. 3 when it travels to Texas A&M. First serve has been changed from 6:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Jayhawks then head to nationally-ranked Nebraska on Oct. 7.