MALIBU, CALIF. ? Before its first-ever NCAA Tournament game Thursday, Kansas University’s volleyball squad was a happy bunch.
That vibrant energy exploded against tradition-rich Long Beach State, a team with 17 straight NCAA appearances. The Jayhawks swept the 49ers, 3-0, Thursday at Pepperdine University’s Firestone Fieldhouse.
“When they send you from Lawrence, Kansas, to Malibu, California, you’re pretty excited about life,” said KU coach Ray Bechard, whose team improved to 22-10 and recorded the first postseason victory in KU’s 28-year program. “Why not enjoy it and play some good volleyball.”
Kansas snatched the first game, 30-23, and set the tone — Long Beach State hadn’t won a match after losing the first game in 10 tries this season.
Neither team established control in the second game because of multiple unforced errors, but Kansas found momentum.
The 49ers appeared to take command when junior Erika Chidester, who led the 49ers with 14 kills, drilled three kills in a row — which would have evened the score at 28.
Instead, a referee whistled Chidester for a violation, giving Kansas a 29-27 lead. Lindsey Morris put away her second straight game-winning kill for a 30-28 victory.
Lansing native Natalie Uhart helped jump-start Long Beach in game three with three kills. The 49ers built a 21-16 lead, but Kansas never gave up, rallying for a 30-28 win and the sweep.
“I think we’ve been in so many tight situations this year, and we’ve responded in so many different ways, that at this point in the season we’re so together. And now, we’re all on the same page,” KU senior Abbie Jacobson said. “We’ve gotten better at playing uncomfortable.”
Kansas looked good even when things were awkward, going on a 14-7 run to close out the match.
“We won a game from ahead, we won a game that was even, and we won a game from behind. So we won all the different ways that you can win,” said Bechard, whose team’s .359 attack percentage was the highest the 49ers surrendered all season.
Senior Sarah Rome’s 17 kills led the Jayhawks, while junior Ashley Michaels tallied 13, and sophomore Josi Lima and junior Lindsey Morris each added 12. Sophomore setter Andi Rozum, who collected 51 assists, set up the Jayhawks’ solid hitting game.
The loss ended Long Beach State’s 16-year streak of seasons with 20 or more wins, but 49ers coach Brian Gimmillaro was more devastated by his team’s poor play.
“You can take your hat off to KU,” Gimmillaro said. “I’m very proud of Ray and what he has developed, and they deserved to win. They certainly outplayed us in every category, from skill level to fight to discipline. Any way you name it, they beat us.
“Most of all, I’m disappointed in the level of competitive spirit.”
The Jayhawks certainly didn’t lack spirit, a trait Jacobson said helped KU stay true to its mantra.
“We wanted to keep it as routine as possible. We didn’t want to think it was the NCAA Tournament, so we have to play different,” Jacobson said. “We wanted to have fun, because that’s when we play at our best.”
Up next for KU is Pepperdine (26-2) at 6 p.m. CST today. The No. 4-seeded Waves easily dispatched Manhattan, 3-0, Thursday.
KU is the obvious underdog, but Bechard said that was when his team thrived.
“We’ve seen K-State twice, we’ve seen Nebraska twice, we’ve seen (Texas) A&M twice, we played Minnesota,” Bechard said. “We’ve seen some very, very good teams. Physically, I don’t think we’re going to be overwhelmed by that.
“I haven’t watched any tape on them, because I was so into Long Beach, but we’ll being watching a lot tonight. They’re a very, very good team, and I’m sure they’ll be very comfortable at home. But it’s just another challenge for this group, and we’ve had a bunch of them this year.”
ENHANCED COVERAGE
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