KU volleyball to host first, second round NCAA Tournament games for second year in a row

By Matt Tait     Dec 1, 2013

John Young
Kansas players celebrate their win following Kansas' volleyball match against in-state rival Kansas State, Saturday at the Horejsi Center. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats, 3-1.

The Kansas University volleyball team earned the No. 14 overall seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament and, for the second season in a row, will host first- and second-round tournament games Friday and Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

The Jayhawks learned their fate Sunday night via the national selection show on ESPNU. Gathered together in the Naismith Room at Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks (23-7) watched three other brackets unfold before finally hearing their name called.

A second-place finish in the Big 12 Conference standings — the program’s highest ever — made KU a lock for inclusion in this year’s field, but the drama of whether it would host or travel during the opening weekend made for some anxious moments.

When the word “Kansas” finally did appear on the television screen, the Jayhawks exploded with excitement and then passed out hugs to anyone and everyone in the room.

KU will play Wichita State at 6:30 p.m. Friday night and the winner will face the winner of the 4 p.m. Friday match between Arkansas and Creighton at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Wichita State ended KU’s season in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament at Allen Fieldhouse and the Jayhawks already have dubbed their portion of the bracket the “redemption bracket.” KU also lost to Arkansas (the Jayhawks and Razorbacks split in two five-set matches) and Creighton earlier this season.

Stay tuned to KUsports.com for much more on KU’s second consecutive trip to the postseason.

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.