MALIBU, CALIF. ? Any lingering sadness from Friday night had to be long gone early Saturday morning when Kansas University’s volleyball team flew out of sunny Los Angeles back to Lawrence.
A 3-1 loss to fourth-ranked Pepperdine might have ended the Jayhawks’ best season ever, but KU coach Ray Bechard was upbeat when talking about his team’s success.
“We think we can be good over the next few years, but it’s going to be difficult to match the chemistry that we managed to put together over the last six to eight weeks,” said Bechard, whose team finished 22-11 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the program’s 28-year history. “I’m extremely proud of this group.”
KU was snubbed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee last season, and the Jayhawks weren’t satisfied with getting an invitation to the 64-team field this year.
Kansas dominated Long Beach State, a storied program that had won three national titles, with a 3-0 sweep Thursday night at Pepperdine.
Kansas also surprised the host Waves Friday in its second-round match. But that success didn’t carry over. After the Jayhawks won the first game 30-23, the Waves won the next three games.
“We definitely opened some eyes,” said senior Sarah Rome, who finished her career as KU’s all-time leader in kills. “People will definitely be ready for next year, too.”
Rome and fellow seniors Abbie Jacobson and Jordan Garrison left their stamp on a Kansas program that had its highest-ever finish in the Big 12 Conference. The Jayhawks tied for third place with a 13-7 mark.
“Every year we got a little bit better, and this past year we made a huge jump,” Rome said of the Jayhawks, who also recorded their most wins since 1991.
While Kansas recorded several milestones — beating Texas A&M, sweeping Texas, first time over .500 in the Big 12, Bechard winning his 100th game and making the NCAAs for the first time — the biggest thing might be the position KU will be in for next season.
“We accomplished so much, and it’s only going to benefit them for next year,” Rome said.
