Kansas University’s volleyball team still seems to be reeling from the loss of sophomore standout Brittany Williams.
The Jayhawks on Saturday night were clobbered by Texas A&M, 30-26, 30-25, 30-19, in Horejsi Center – the third straight loss by sweep since the New Orleans middle blocker suffered a season-ending knee injury at practice.
“You would say initially yes,” KU coach Ray Bechard said, asked if it has been tough without Williams. “Maybe if she’s been out a match … but now it’s been three matches. I think reality obviously set in. She is not going to be out there so here’s what we need from the folks that have been out there. It (injury) is disappointing. At the same time, it is part of college athletics.”
KU’s top player Saturday night was a freshman. Jenna Kaiser, a 6-footer out of Wichita Kapaun, had a team-leading 16 kills.
“She’s much more comfortable,” Bechard said. “Sixteen kills, a couple of block assists. I thought she took some real heavy swings. She will make an error now and then, which is to be expected. Offensively, she was one of our highlights.”
Freshman Karina Garlington of Denver contributed four kills and eight digs.
“Karina had a pretty large role,” Bechard said. “She plays all the way around. That’s a lot to expect from a freshman.”
Emily Brown and Natalie Uhart recorded nine and eight kills, respectively, as KU fell to 9-8 overall and 2-5 in Big 12 play.
Brown also led the Jayhawks in digs, with 11, and assists, with 20.
Katie Martincich added nine digs and 19 assists, and Garlington chipped in eight digs.
A&M, which snapped a two-game losing streak, is 13-5, 3-5.
KU will play host to Colorado at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Horejsi.
“They’ll be like the team we played tonight, very hungry to compete. We’ve got to match that,” Bechard said.