KU Beats Santa Clara 3-1 to Advance in NCAA Tourney

Dec. 3, 2004

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SEATTLE – Four Jayhawks notched 12 or more kills and three added double-digit digs as the University of Kansas volleyball team defeated Santa Clara 3-1 Friday night to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks, who improved to 19-11 overall, prevailed 30-25, 26-30, 30-28 and 30-15.

KU will face the host Washington Huskies, who defeated Idaho 3-0 Friday, Saturday at 9 p.m. Central. The Huskies (25-2) won the Pac-10 this season and are seeded seventh nationally.

Jill Dorsey led KU with a career-high 31 digs. She is now just 10 digs away from surpassing Adrian Powell to become KU’s all-time digs leader (1,325). Josi Lima paced the offense with 17 kills on a .361 hitting average and added 18 digs in the win.

Jana Correa added 16 kills (.371 hitting mark) while Ashley Michaels followed close behind with 15 kills (.342) and added two solo blocks and two aces. Paula Caten added 12 kills while Emily Brown rounded out the hitters with nine kills to go with her 14 digs.

Andi Rozum dished a match-high 52 assists and added seven kills (.500), seven digs and two aces. Lindsey Morris added a season-best eight digs in the victory.

Kansas jumped to an 8-3 lead after a solo block by Correa, an ace by Michaels and kill by Lima. Santa Clara took its first time out of the match and the Jayhawks led by as many as seven (15-8). The Broncos answered with a 5-0 run and came within two, but did not get any closer as KU closed out game one 30-25.

Lima led the Jayhawks with six kills while Dorsey had eight digs in the opening game. KU out hit the Broncos .348 to .297 and tallied three service aces.

The Jayhawks scored the first point in game two but did not lead again until the 18-17 mark. Santa Clara led by as many as five after two KU time outs, 29-24. KU battled back and scored two straight off a Correa kill and Michaels block, but the Broncos won the game 30-26.

Santa Clara (18-9) hit at a .358 clip and committed just three hitting errors in the second stanza. The Broncos’ Caroline Walters had 10 digs and Santa Clara notched three service aces. KU kept its attack percentage at .300 in the second stanza as the teams went into the break tied 1-1.

The teams exchanged leads in game three and KU took a 15-14 lead at the halfway mark. The Jayhawks pulled away 20-16 after two Santa Clara service errors and held on to a comfortable lead until the Broncos fought back to within one, 29-28. Michaels ended the third stanza with a kill, 30-28.

KU out hit the Broncos .444 to .232 and picked up three blocks in the third game. Caten and Michaels each added six kills in the stanza.

The Jayhawks, who are 5-0 this season when leading 2-1, jumped to a 6-0 start in game four behind the serving of Dorsey and solo blocks by Michaels and Correa. KU extended its lead to 10 (16-6) after two straight Bronco errors and played stifling defense.

Dorsey sealed the game and match with a serve that hit the Broncos’ back line, 30-15.

In the match, KU out hit the Broncos .343 to .223 and out blocked them 11.0 to 4.0. The Jayhawks’ 88 digs marked a season-high.

“We played excellent defense tonight and were very balanced on offense,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “We had great momentum in game four and I am thrilled with the way we played in that game. There is nothing better than playing volleyball this time of year and we look forward to a great match tomorrow.”

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