But there was more to the box score.

The Jayhawks (13-7 overall, 4-7 Big 12 Conference) showed depth, as six players recorded at least six kills, four players put up at least two blocks, and KU scored a .246 hitting percentage.

Bechard said the hitting percentage was around “Big 12 standards,” which he said typically was around .250. He also said he wanted to keep opponents below .200, and the Jayhawks held the Cyclones to a meager .051.

But most importantly, with their second consecutive 3-0 conference victory, the Jayhawks built momentum heading into Saturday’s rematch with No. 18 Kansas State in Manhattan — the first match of a rocky nine-game stretch to finish the regular season.

Scott McClurg/Journal-World Photo

“We had really good streaks in games,” Bechard said. “Game one we were pretty good most of the game, game two we were good in the second half, and game three we got a little sloppy in the end. … But we held them down pretty well.”

Kansas slammed its fist early. In game one, with the score tied at 5, the Jayhawks scored three points off of Cyclone errors and rolled to a 10-1 run. The rapid attack was led by junior outside hitter Paula Caten, who had seven of her match-high 13 kills in the first game. The Jayhawks kept applying pressure, and Caten ended the 30-18 victory in game one with her seventh kill.

The Jayhawks pulled away late in the second game to win 30-24, but unlike game one they won mostly because of defense. Senior middle blocker Ashley Michaels combined with Caten for eight blocks. The game ended on an emphatic cross-court kill by sophomore outside hitter Jana Correa, a play that brought the crowd to its feet and left the Cyclones scrambling for answers.

“We keep on our middles about turning around, and sometimes the play develops and you hesitate a little bit,” Bechard said of his defense. “It was good to see that part of it come back. Boy, when you get those instant points, it really makes it a lot easier.”

Iowa State finally put up more of a fight in game three, rallying late to pull within one point at 29-28. Following a late Kansas timeout, Michaels ended the match the same way Correa ended the second game.

With Michaels and junior middle blocker Josi Lima drawing two defenders each time they go to the net, Bechard stressed the importance of his team’s depth up front.

“There drawing a crowd defensively, and that’s gonna open up things for Paula and Jana, and I think Emily (Brown) had a little spark there in game three too,” he said.

Correa was second on the team behind Caten with 12 kills, and Brown had four of her six kills in game three.

In 2003, the Jayhawks started the season 12-7 and still were able to regroup down the stretch to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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The veterans are hesitant to compare this season with last, but their first consecutive conference victories of the season have erased memories of a five-game losing streak.

“I’m not comparing this year to last year at all,” Michaels said. “It’s great to have a couple of wins under our belt right now, but we’re gonna start playing some really good teams, so we have to up our play. We have to beat teams that are going to be in the tournament.”