Jayhawks Swept By #8 Longhorns
Nov. 1, 2006
AUSTIN, Texas –
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The University of <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas volleyball team lost a three-game match at No. 8 Texas Wednesday night at Gregory Gym. A balanced KU offense had five Jayhawks notch five or more kills as the eight-ranked Longhorns prevailed, 30-20, 30-25 and 30-20.
With the loss, the Jayhawks moved to 10-13 on the season and 3-11 in Big 12 Conference play while UT improved to 16-5 and 11-3 in league action and extended its win streak to four.
Junior Emily Brown led KU with 10 kills and 10 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. Senior Jana Correa added nine kills and seven digs while sophomore Savannah Noyes totaled seven kills in the effort. Freshman Brittany Williams and senior Megan Hill rounded out the top Jayhawk hitters with five kills apiece.
Redshirt freshman Katie Martincich dished 35 assists to go with her seven digs and is just six dimes away from her 1,000th. Senior Jamie Mathewson totaled 12 digs in the defensive effort.
After a rocky start in Game One, the Jayhawks came within five, 15-10, after three-straight UT hitting errors. The Longhorns were errorless the rest of the game, hitting at a .457 clip with 19 kills and three errors on 35 attempts. Brown notched five of KU’s 12 kills, but the Jayhawks committed six errors on 38 attacks and were outblocked four to none in the opening game.
The KU hitters showed improvement in Game Two, swinging at a .256 hitting percentage – 16 kills and six errors on 39 attempts while five Jayhawks added three kills each. The Jayhawks remained close and trailed just 12-9 after a 3-0 run. The teams traded points through much of the game and a Brown kill kept KU in striking distance, 22-19. At the 28-25 mark, Texas claimed the game after a KU service and blocking error.
The UT offense overcame the Jayhawks in Game Three, scoring 21 of its 30 points on kills. A Noyes kill brought KU within three (15-12), but Texas soon reeled off three-straight points to take a 24-16 lead. Six unanswered points propelled the `Horns to match point, which the Jayhawks held off three times. KU committed seven attack errors on a match-high 49 attempts and had 11 kills for a .082 hitting efficiency in the game.
For the match, UT outhit the Jayhawks .349 to .159 and totaled nine blocks to KU’s two.
KU continues the short road stint Saturday at IowaState. Match time at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa, is set for 6:30 p.m.
-KU-
