Kansas Volleyball knocks off Texas

After a rough start to the season that saw the Jayhawks open up 2018 with an uninspriring 4-4 record, Kansas Volleyball has now ripped off eight wins in a row, including opening Big 12 play 5-0, capped by a 3-1 win over #4 Texas, 25-18, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23.

The Jayhawks were receiving votes in the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, and will no doubt see a number in front of their name next Monday if things go as planned following a trip to Lubbock on Saturday. With the win over #4 Texas, KU has defeated two consecutive top-25 teams (#23 Baylor).

Although Kansas is on quite a winning streak, it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. In its first four Big 12 matches, the Jayhawks failed to win the first set, but each time stormed back to defeat their opponent.

However against Texas, KU cruised in the first set to a relatively easy 25-18 score. In fact, even though two of the four sets were decided by just two points, aside from a 16-point period in the last half of the third set Kansas was the dominant team all evening long. The Jayhawks led two sets to love and 16-13 in the third set before Texas ripped off six points in a row. That led to a 12-4 run to finish the only set the Longhorns would be able to take from Kansas.

In the second set, self-inflicted mistakes cost Kansas a 24-19 edge, and Texas even had a set point opportunity at 25-24. But the scrappy Jayhawks rallied, finally taking the set on their sixth set point opportunity.

The fourth set saw Texas take early leads of 4-0 and 8-2. The Horejsi Athletic Center nearly lost its roof when Kansas tied the set at 18-all. The Jayhawks won 4 of the final 6 points of the match to close out Texas.

The story of the night was definitely KU’s defense. While the Jayhawks did outhit the Longhorns .294 to .234, it was KU’s 61 digs to UT’s 48 that gave KU the edge it needed.

It was just KU’s sixth all-time win against Texas.

Up next, the Jayhawks travel to Texas Tech for a 1 PM first serve with the Red Raiders on Saturday, October 13.