Kansas Falls at Mizzou 3-0

Nov. 3, 2004

Box Score

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Despite 17 kills by Jana Correa, the Kansas volleyball team lost a tough match to Border Showdown rival Missouri 3-0 Wednesday night at the Hearnes Center. The Tigers outscored the Jayhawks 30-23, 30-26 and 30-25, to take a 5.5 to 4.5 lead in the 2004-05 Border Showdown.

With the loss, KU fell to 13-9 overall and 4-9 in the Big 12 Conference while MU improved to 14-6 and 9-4 in league play.

KU and MU were tied 10 times in game one until Mizzou rattled off six straight points, including five kills and a block. After colliding with teammate Paula Caten at the net at the 5-5 mark, Josi Lima came back into the game but the Jayhawks’ momentum did not pick up. Despite four kills by Jana Correa, KU could not rebound and fell 30-23.

Game two also remained close but the Tigers were able to pull ahead 10-5 on three straight kills to force a KU time out. MU went on to lead by as many as seven until KU rallied behind outside hitters Correa and Caten and tied the game, 23-23. The Tigers ended game two with a 7-3 run that included six kills (30-26).

Mizzou broke down KU’s passing game early in game three, notching three straight kills on pass receptions that went over the net. The Jayhawks picked up their receiving but the MU defense did not falter as KU took two of its timeouts to regroup. KU posted a valiant rally, charging to within four, 25-21. After an MU break, Andi Rozum netted a service error and the Tigers blocked a Correa attempt for the win, 30-25.

Correa, a 6-0 outside hitter, led the Jayhawks with a .371 attack percentage in 35 attempts. Caten and Lima added seven kills while Ashley Michaels and Emily Brown added four and five kills, respectively.

Brown led the KU defense with 10 digs while libero Jill Dorsey added nine in the loss. Lima notched eight digs while four other Jayhawks (Correa, Caten, Rozum and Dani Wittman) added at least three digs each. Rozum dished 35 assists as the offense hit .183, including .250 in game three.

Mizzou was led by Jessica Vander Kooi, who had 18 kills (.389) and 13 digs. MU

“Jana had a great match tonight, but we have seen quite a bit of great individual performances lately and not enough from the whole team,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “We were in a little bit of a bind when Josi came out in game one and she was very courageous but we have been depending on her a little too much. I have to give Missouri credit though, they are very versatile. We are anxious to return home and look forward to taking wins from Oklahoma and Baylor.”

The Jayhawks will return home Saturday for a contest with Oklahoma. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.