Jayhawks win seventh-straight; upsets No. 23 Baylor

LAWRENCE, Kan. – A 6-0 scoring run to end the third set propelled the Kansas volleyball team to its seventh-straight victory, as the Jayhawks upset No. 23 Baylor, 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-21), Saturday afternoon inside Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
 
Kansas (11-4, 4-0 Big 12) trailed the Bears (10-6, 2-3 Big 12) 23-19 in that third set when junior libero Allie Nelson strung together six-straight tough serves. KU added three blocks in the run and the Jayhawks were able to stun Baylor with the comeback set victory.
 
That rally stole the momentum from the Bears and allowed Kansas to win its fourth-straight conference match of the season. Junior outside hitter Jada Burse led all attackers with 19 kills and a .390 clip. Burse took 41 swings on the day and only three were errant.
 
Defensively, Nelson turned in a game-high 24 digs, doubling the number of any one of Baylor’s players.
 
NOTES

• Kansas extended its winning streak to seven games – the longest since 2016 when the Jayhawks won 14 in a row to close out league play (Oct. 1 – Nov. 26).
• KU starts Big 12 play 4-0 for the second-straight season and third time in the last four years.
• For the fifth time this season, Kansas recorded 15 or more blocks, finishing the day with 16.
• Junior libero Allie Nelson has reached double figures in digs in each of the last six contests.
• Senior right-side hitter/setter Gabby Simpson and freshman outside hitter/setter Camryn Ennis have each reached double digits in assists in the last three matches and have combined to dish out a total of 137 in that span.

QUOTES
Head coach Ray Bechard on the 6-0 run to end the third set…
“You get it to 23-21 and (Baylor) starts to feel game pressure, and we did. And Allie (Nelson), you have to give her credit, she was serving tough and to target. When Rachel (Langs) gets that big block, the gym starts believing it and our team starts believing it – the opponent starts doubting it. All those things combined created a pretty fun way to end the third set.”
 
Bechard on if he thought that was the biggest momentum changer…
“I think it was very disappointing if you were Baylor. That was probably the case too Wednesday (Oct. 3) against West Virginia when we finished on a 43-16 run. It would be tough knowing that you had the set in hand on the road, and now you are down 2-1. I think it creates a little bit of self-doubt.”
 
UP NEXT
Kansas closes out its three-game Big 12 homestand when it plays host to No. 4 Texas Wednesday night, Oct. 10 inside Horejsi Family Athletics Center. First serve is set for 8 p.m. on Fox Sports Net.
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