Jayhawks Fall To Missouri 3-1 On Senior Night

Nov. 23, 2005

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LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas volleyball team (15-13, 7-12 Big 12) was upended by the No. 10 Missouri Tigers (21-4, 15-4 Big 12), by a score of 3-1 on Senior Night in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center Wednesday evening. Seniors Josi Lima, Andi Rozum and Paula Caten bid farewell to the Jayhawk faithful in what was an emotional night.

The first two games of the match were very close as the Jayhawks and Tigers split 1-1 at intermission. MU took the first game 30-25, while Kansas won the second 30-27. In the second game, Rozum went down with a match-ending injury near the net that forced KU to juggle the lineup the rest of the way. Sophomore Emily Brown, normally an outside hitter, took over the setting position the rest of the way.

“You lose Rozum, and have to use Emily, who has never set before in a collegiate match, then it’s going to be tough,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “I thought Emily did an unbelievable job under the circumstances, but it changes every service pattern and everyone’s responsibility. We won in game two off a little bit of energy and enthusiasm, but when you’re playing a top 10 team, they’re going to eventually expose those deficiencies you have.”

After intermission, Missouri won the third game 30-16, and then put away the match in the fourth game, 30-18.

Caten led KU with 14 kills and 19 digs. Lima added 13 kills, three solo blocks and six block assists. Before her exit, Rozum had 20 assists.

Bechard was happy with the Jayhawks’ effort in the face of adversity.

“I’m so proud of the way everybody handled it (Rozum’s injury),” Bechard said. “We gave a great effort, but there were just too many things to overcome. Now we have to figure out a way to piece things together and try to get a win up in Ames — and then hope (for an NCAA berth).”

KU plays Iowa State on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. in Ames, Iowa.

Following the match, the seniors addressed the crowd in a teary ceremony. All three seniors thanked their families, teammates, coaches, support staff and the fans. The night was capped off when Rozum received a proposal from her boyfriend Alex Santos on the court. The surprised Rozum excitedly said yes.