#1 Huskers Outlast Jayhawks, 3-1
Oct. 8, 2005
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
The University of Kansas volleyball team was able to take one game from top-ranked Nebraska Saturday night, but ended up with a 3-1 loss to the Huskers in front of another sellout crowd of 1,300 at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center. KU (12-5, 4-4 Big 12) fell to #1 Nebraska (15-0, 7-0 Big 12), 30-16, 26-30, 30-22 and 30-15.
“I thought we saw some of the better action we have seen all year,” KU head coach Ray Bechard said. “What we saw was the best team in the country. We had an outstanding game two; in game three we needed to do something there. It is a world of difference going up 2-1 then going down 2-1.”
“That match lasted an hour and 45 minutes and I thought we were really good for an hour,” Bechard added. But against a team like Nebraska, who obviously deserves the No. 1 ranking, you have to defend that. That is our challenge and what we are going to work on.”
Sophomore Emily Brown paced the KU offense with 16 kills on a .333 hitting efficiency and added six digs and three assists. Senior Josi Lima had nine kills while senior Paula Caten (11 digs) and freshman Savannah Noyes added eight kills apiece in the effort. In just her third career start, junior Megan Hill set a new career best with six kills.
Junior libero Jamie Mathewson was solid defensively for the Jayhawks, posting a match-high 16 digs. Senior Andi Rozum dished a match-best 42 assists and added 10 digs and five kills.
KU was without junior Jana Correa, who is out the rest of the season with an injury. Correa was second on the team behind Lima with 3.60 kills per game before suffering a season-ending injury on Oct. 5.
The highlight of the match for KU came in game two, when the Jayhawks jumped to a 10-5 lead after a kill by Caten. The Huskers rallied back to tie the game at 20-all, but the KU offense gained momentum at the net and continued to swing away. The Jayhawks hit .395 in the game with 19 kills and took advantage of NU errors to win their first game against the Huskers since Oct. 8, 2003.
NU was led by junior Christina Houghtelling’s 14 kills on a .458 attack percentage. Sophomore Sarah Pavan (12 kills) and senior Melissa Elmer (11 kills) rounded out the Huskers’ double-digit scorers. NU outhit the Jayhawks .292 to .071 and recorded an impressive 22.0 blocks to KU’s 4.0.
To hear Coach Bechard’s postgame message, call 785-864-7023.
The Jayhawks will enjoy a Wednesday bye and return to Big 12 action Saturday, Oct. 15 against #7 Missouri. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Hearnes Center in Columbia.
– KU –
