Kansas Volleyball Nearly Upsets No. 1 Texas, Falls 3-2

Underperforming on Saturdays does not apply to the Kansas volleyball team. The now 11-5 (3-2 in conference) Jayhawks came ready to play as they hosted No. 1 and undefeated (12-0) Texas on Saturday afternoon. Kansas almost pulled off the upset, but ended up falling 3-2 in five sets.

I mentioned in the suggestions for the football bye week that an upset could be brewing today. While the Longhorns football team blew a big second-half lead to Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout, the volleyball Longhorns got out to a much slower start as Kansas jumped out quickly, taking the first two sets.

After being in control for most of the first set, the Jayhawks and Longhorns went back and forth in set two, with nine lead changes taking place before KU finished off the set. Texas fought back, taking the third set and then had an answer for everything in set four. After being tied at 13, Texas would stretch its lead before KU cut it to one (18-17, 20-19) but the Longhorns were too much.

Again, Texas looked to be in command in set five, going up 7-3, but then KU clawed back to tie the set at 11. But in the end, Texas had too many answers and eked out a victory.

Still, it was an impressive performance by a Kansas team against the best in the country – and the atmosphere within Horejsi was fantastic. The Jayhawks deserve the attention this weekend.

Round two of Kansas-Texas is at 3 p.m. tomorrow on ESPNU.