Kansas State University rode the purple wave back to Manhattan on Saturday night after handing Kansas University its second straight sweep, 15-12, 15-8, 15-1.
Not even 1,103 fans, with only a sprinkling of purple, could pull the Jayhawks to a victory as KSU improved to 18-6 overall, 12-4 in the Big 12. Kansas fell to 14-12, 5-12.
“It’s just real disappointing,” Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. “It seems like they were scoring very easily. It was like we had to work and work and work to try to get a sideout and some type of point.”
Game One was not so bad for Kansas. In fact, KU had a .298 hit percentage compared to K-State’s .241 percentage.
For every point Kansas scored, the Wildcats would respond. Not even two service aces by sophomore defensive specialist Jennifer Kraft could elevate the Jayhawks to a comfort zone over the feisty Wildcats. KSU eventually pushed ahead, halting a Jayhawk run for the lead late in the game.
The Jayhawks’ comeback run at 13-12 was interrupted by KSU’s Cari Jensen. Jensen’s sideout secured possession and the win for the Wildcats.
Eleven errors hurt the Jayhawks’ run in Game Two as the Wildcats improved their percentage to .421 and added 20 kills with just four errors.
Bechard was troubled by the Jayhawks’ “hesitancy and miscommunication” during the second game.
“I’ll take responsibility,” the KU coach said. “We felt we had a really good game plan.”
The Wildcats took the Jayhawks completely out of their gameplan in Game Three. KSU capitalized on every possession, aided by seven kills from Lisa Mimick. The only Kansas point came off a defensive block by Geronymo and junior setter Molly LaMere.
KU will travel to Texas on Wednesday before the seniors make their last appearance at the Horejsi Center on Saturday night against Missouri.
