by WACO, Texas – Junior outside hitter Tiana Dockery connected every time it mattered – and then some – on her way to a season-high 19 kills. Her offensive onslaught in the Ferrell Center powered Kansas to its first Big 12 Conference win in four sets at Baylor, 25-22, 18-25, 28-26, 25-22.
Last year marked the first victory for Kansas (13-5, 1-3) in Waco since the 2010 season. In the ensuing trip to Baylor (10-9, 1-4), KU picked up back-to-back wins in Waco for the first time since the 2002 and 2003 seasons. While Baylor committed nine attack errors in the set one, both teams hovered around an efficient .305 attack efficiency by the break. Errors haunted both team after intermission, and even saw Baylor build late leads against the Jayhawks in both the third and fourth sets. On the hunt for their first Big 12 win, however, the Jayhawks wouldn’t have it. They shook off set point at 24-23 to win set three, 28-26. Trailing, 21-18 in the fourth, Kansas ended the final frame on a 7-1 run to claim the definition of a grind-it-out win.
“As we’ve found out, anybody in this league can beat anybody at any point in time, but it’s the way that we did it with a really gutty effort in set three and then a big run to end set four that is really satisfying,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “It’s what we needed.”
Dockery carried the torch for the offense. Her third-straight match in double figures was a big one as she busted loose for a season-high 19 kills and added eight digs. Joining her was fellow veteran outside hitter, senior Sara McClinton, who churned out 16 kills and a team-best .371 attack percentage. Senior Chelsea Albers, the third of the veteran outside trio, dug a season-best 16 digs and added nine kills and five blocks.
Kansas continues its Big 12 slate on the road at West Virginia on Oct. 15. First serve is set for 5:30 p.m. CT.
