Kansas Volleyball Trending Upward with its #Unprecedented Run

LAWRENCE, Kan. – If you happened to be sleeping on Kansas volleyball’s unprecedented run to its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament, subsequent second Sweet 16 appearance in three years, and late night upheaval of No. 1 overall seed USC to advance to the program’s first Final Four, we’ve got the skinny on a flurry of weekend social and traditional media activity.
 
The Jayhawks shook the volleyball world Saturday night – or Sunday morning depending on your time zone – and the shockwaves registered on twitter’s seismograph. Tweets tied to the @KUVolleyball handle alone registered 1,028,082 organic impressions (views of the content) last week with 77,367 total engagements (likes, retweets, replies, etc.) and a jazzed up fan base provided 3,485 link clicks. Kansas’ official twitter feed also gained 1,127 followers and there’s plenty of room on the bandwagon as the Jayhawks travel to Omaha to face off against former Big 12 foe Nebraska in the national semifinal match at 8:30 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2.
 
Volleyball’s top tweet, an all-caps “OMAHA HERE WE COME!!!” with graphical treatment, sent out after 1 a.m. (CT) had 91,904 impressions as of noon on Monday. Some notable congratulatory tweeters included current Kansas governor Sam Brownback and Sunflower State senator Pat Roberts. Misty May-Treanor, three-time beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist…pretty much a governor of volleyball,  even chimed in with, “Wow….6-0 run to had to the NCAA Championship Final Four…”
 
The celebration wasn’t limited to twitter. Both message boards on JayhawkSlant.com, part of the Rivals network and generally dominated by football and men’s basketball topics, had pages-deep congratulatory threads, and Kansas made headlines from coast to coast – or at least Midwest to West Coast. The Lawrence Journal World, KU’s hometown paper, prominently displayed the Jayhawks above the fold on the front page Monday proclaiming the “Heroes’ welcome” the team received when it returned Sunday evening.
 
A little more than 24 hours after the buzz reached its peak, Jayhawk student-athletes were back in the classroom taking final exams and preparing for the next round, because as Maggie Anderson said Sunday, the Jayhawks are not done yet.

The following is a collection of buzz related to Kansas’ run through the Sweet 16 with a win over Loyola Marymount and then Saturday’s Elite Eight victory over the Trojans:

SOCIAL MEDIA

An incredible end to an incredible night! #NCAAVB https://t.co/F6agR3LRcW

— NCAA Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) December 13, 2015

Public figures:

Wow….6-0 run to head to NCAA Championship Final Four. Congrats to JayHawks but what a battle by USC. A great day of watching college vb

— Misty May-Treanor (@MistyMayTreanor) December 13, 2015

So proud of @KUVolleyball on making it to the Final Four. Good luck in the semis! #RockChalk https://t.co/nrAjGBAa1Q pic.twitter.com/61EutLhtfW

— Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) December 14, 2015

Major congratulations to @KUVolleyball on advancing to the @NCAAVolleyball Final Four for the first time ever. https://t.co/wATHlAQJAa

— Sam Brownback (@govsambrownback) December 13, 2015

Former KU student-athletes & coaches:

I can’t even describe that. Unbelievable fight. #kuvball @KUVolleyball amazing. #FinalFour

— Jill Hall (@jilldorseyhall) December 13, 2015

Still awake at 1:38am…. Still crying tears of joy for @KUVolleyball

— Sara McClinton (@saramcClovin) December 13, 2015

Congrats to @KUVolleyball for making it to the Final Four!!!!! Such a big accomplishment. Keep it going for all of us oldies!

— Caroline Jarmoc (@Curlyyfries9) December 13, 2015

SO proud of these girls!! ROCK CHALK #FinalFour@NCAAVolleyball: An incredible end to an incredible night! #NCAAVB https://t.co/cO9CYlXcfO

— Catherine Carmichael (@KUCatC) December 13, 2015

Shoutout to @KUVolleyball on advancing to the Final Four! Rock Chalk!

— Ben Heeney (@henbeeney) December 13, 2015

Down 13-9 and score 6 straight points to make the national semifinal…did that just happen?! @KUVolleyball Congrats! #RockChalk #Jayhawk

— Dan Georgalas (@DanDaCoach) December 13, 2015

Jayhawks supporting Jayhawks:

Mannnnnnn! So proud of @KUVolleyball!!! What’s up Omaha!

— David Beaty (@beaty_david) December 13, 2015

Huge congratulations to the @KUVolleyball squad on their upset of the No. 1 seed and being Final Four bound! #RockChalk

— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops) December 13, 2015

Proof that we have the best fans in the world? The fact that you’re all still up with us celebrating! pic.twitter.com/QzD8SToXKW

— Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) December 13, 2015

IN THE NEWS
Kansas upsets top-seed USC in volleyball quarterfinals
San Mateo Daily Journal – December 14, 2015     

FINAL FOUR BOUND: No. 9 Kansas Upends No. 1 USC
The Salina Post – December 14, 2015    

Kansas volleyball relishes first trip to Final Four
The Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com – December 13, 2015     

KU volleyball relishes trip to the Final Four after upset victory over USC
The Kansas City Star – December 13, 2015

Minnesota scene: Kansas joins Gophers in women’s volleyball Final Four
StarTribune.com – December 13, 2015

Wandering coach, locker-room splash part of biggest win in KU volleyball history
Topeka Capital-Journal – December 13, 2015 

Welcome back rally for Final Four-bound volleyball team set for 5 p.m., today, in Horejsi Center
Lawrence Journal-World – December 13, 2015

Jayhawks headed to Final Four for the first time
WIBW 13 News – December 13, 2015

Kansas Rallies In Final Set to Upset Top-Seeded Southern Cal In Shocker
News & Commentary – EspnW – ESPN.com – December 13, 2015

NCAA volleyball, Day 5: It’s Big Ten vs. Big 12 in Final Four
StarTribune.com – December 13, 2015

Dramatic Wins Send Kansas & Texas to NCAA National Semifinals
Big 12 Conference – December 13, 2015 

DREAM ON! KU volleyball reaches Final Four
Lawrence Journal-World – December 13, 2015

Kansas volleyball team upsets No. 1 USC, advances to Final Four
The Kansas City Star – December 13, 2015

KU volleyball gets huge welcome home from hundreds of Lawrence fans
Lawrence Journal-World – December 13, 2015

No. 9 Kansas stuns No. 1 USC in dramatic comeback, advancing to the Final Four
The University Daily Kansan – December 13, 2015 

Kansas volleyball stuns No. 1 USC, advances to Final Four
Topeka Capital-Journal – December 13, 2015

Long time coming: KU basks in glow of Final Four berth
Lawrence Journal-World – December 13, 2015

Kansas and Nebraska, former Big 12 rivals, to meet at Final Four
Omaha.com – December 12, 2015

KU volleyball tops Loyola Marymount 3-1, reaches NCAA’s final eight
The Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com – December 11, 2015

KU volleyball advances to Elite Eight
Topeka Capital-Journal – December 11, 2015

Victorious Jayhawks & Longhorns Among NCAA’s Elite Eight 
Big 12 Conference – December 11, 2015 

Kansas advances past LMU
Omaha.com – December 11, 2015

KU volleyball advances in NCAA Tournament
Lawrence Journal-World – December 11, 2015

Kansas volleyball advances to Elite Eight
The Kansas City Star – December 11, 2015 

Kansas defeats Loyola Marymount, advancing to first Elite Eight in program history
The University Daily Kansan – December 11, 2015