by LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the second time in as many matches, Kansas went five sets against a Big 12 Conference foe. And, for the second time, the fifth set went in favor of the opposition as the Jayhawks snapped a four-match win streak against its in-state rival Kansas State, Wednesday night in the Horejsi Family Athletics Center, 19-25, 25-23, 25-14, 22-25, 8-15.
Kansas (12-4, 0-2) was on pace to pick up its first Big 12 win on the season, but the Wildcats (14-2, 1-1) battled back from a 2-1 deficit to steal the win in five, giving KU an 0-2 start to league play for the first time since 2011.
Ignoring the sold-out Kansas crowd, the Wildcats proceeded to swing for eight kills and no errors to run away with the final frame, 15-8. What started as a Kansas comeback after the Jayhawks dropped the first set, evolved into a 2-1 Kansas lead and, finally, a heartbreaking five-set loss. Every point was a fight with diving digs and constant blocks at the net altering every shot. Kansas won the blocks and digs columns, and even tallied five more kills on the night, but the end result still went to the Wildcats.
“K-State wanted to win, Kansas wanted to win,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “We have to treat every match similar to that in how we play. We haven’t been consistent enough and been competitive in the right times. I guess as a neutral observer, it would be a fun match to watch. Obviously, it wasn’t the result we were hoping for.”
Junior outside hitter Tiana Dockery (Navajo) notched her first double-double on the season, tallying 10 kills and 16 digs. Freshman outside hitter Madison Rigdon aced two serves, while sophomore libero Cassie Wait lead Kansas with 18 digs.
Kansas stays at home to welcome the back-to-back-to-back Big 12 Champion No. 2 Texas Longhorns to Lawrence. KU and UT will face off on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. The sold-out match will air on Fox Sports Southwest.
