KU volleyball sweeps finale

By Gary Bedore     Nov 28, 2015

John Young
Kansas sophomore Ainise Havili dives to make a dig while teammates Cassie Wait, left, and Ashlyn Driskill watch during their volleyball match against Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon at the Horejsi Center.

Ashlyn Driskill’s five-kill, one-error performance on Kansas University volleyball Senior Day — which included her unleashing a cannon of a serve in a 3-0 sweep of Texas Tech — might have surprised a few fans Saturday in sold-out Horejsi Center.

The 6-foot Valley Center native has been out of the spectators’ sight much of the season because of a torn UCL in her elbow.

“You saw today what we get to see every day in practice,” KU coach Ray Bechard said of the effort from the senior outside hitter, who transferred to KU from Wichita State (where she was third on the team in kills last season) for her final year of collegiate eligibility.

“She was dealt a little bit of a bad hand with the elbow injury. It took 60 to 70 percent of the season. But this kid … she showed up every day. She showed our team how to handle adversity, how to be a positive teammate, how to create opportunities for our team each and every day. She is a really good volleyball player,” Bechard added, “but a better teammate and person. We were lucky to have her.”

Driskill graduated from WSU in three years with a chemistry degree and has designs on attending med school. But first, she has some unfinished business with her KU volleyball teammates, whose 25-19, 25-9, 25-23 rout of Texas Tech capped the best regular season in school history.

The No. 9-ranked Jayhawks — who will find out at 8 p.m. today (Selection Show on ESPNU) who they’ll be playing next weekend in NCAA Tournament action, almost certainly in Horejsi — finished the regular season with a sparkling 26-2 record. The only two losses were to Texas.

KU went 14-2 in Big 12 play and finished second, a game behind the Longhorns and three games ahead of third-place Iowa State.

“Everyone is super pumped in the locker room, celebrating, cheering, but we all know we’re not done yet. We’re focused,” Driskill said of the NCAA Tournament.

Of what she witnessed from this team in the regular season, she said: “Great teamwork, first of all. We started on a strong note (undefeated in nonconference play). Everyone was willing to keep working to get better. I think that’s what made a difference. If we play together, play well and connect, there’s no stopping us, I feel like,” added Driskill, not one to sulk about her injury which put a dent in her own playing time.

“I mean, I’m really upset what happened, but I can’t change it. I feel I’m making the most of what I can do,” Driskill said.

On Saturday, senior starter Tiana Dockery ripped 15 kills against three errors, and senior Anna Church, who like Driskill was a one-year transfer (from Saint Louis U), had nine digs, five assists and a service ace.

“I’m really proud of ‘Dock’ (with) 15 kills. Driskill played very well. Anna played very well. For those guys in the last regular-season match to play like that was great to see,” Bechard said.

Junior Cassie Wait followed up her strong performance at Kansas State on Wednesday with 23 digs. Sophomore Kelsie Payne had 15 kills against zero errors, while Tayler Soucie and Madison Ridgon had six kills and Janae Hall four. Soph Ainise Havili had 40 assists, nine digs.

“We are all sisters for life,” Richmond, Texas, native Dockery said, speaking to the fans after the match. “It’s been a great opportunity to play here with so many people around you who support you and want you to do so well. It makes you feel so good inside. It brings out your confidence and makes you want to do things you probably never thought of.”

Of this so-far dream of a season, Dockery said: “We sold this place out for every conference match. We had our best regular season ever, and we aren’t done yet.”

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