Losing to Arkansas-Little Rock in the first round of the NCAA Tournament was a heartbreaking way for Kansas University’s volleyball team to conclude the 2014 season.
“It was not fun. We were very disappointed. Tears were shed. We didn’t like that feeling. It doesn’t go away,” KU junior middle blocker Tayler Soucie said of a five-set setback in the Kansas Expocentre. “We’re looking forward to not having that feeling again,” she added.
The (26-2) Jayhawks, who say they carried the pain of that loss with them all offseason, even on an exhibition trip to Europe, open the 2015 NCAA Tournament against (21-8) Furman at 6:30 p.m., today in Horejsi Center.
Winner meets the winner of today’s 4 p.m. match between (26-5) Missouri and (24-10) Missouri State at 6:30 p.m., Friday. Survivor of the four-team tourney moves on to the San Diego regional next week.
Last year, the Expocentre was supposed to provide a homecourt advantage for the Jayhawks, who were denied use of 1,300-seat Horejsi Center because of a since-discarded rule that prohibited NCAA matches from being held in buildings that seat less than 2,000 fans. Also, Allen Fieldhouse happened to be occupied for a basketball game against Florida.
“It didn’t feel that much like a homecourt advantage,” senior outside hitter Tiana Dockery said of the Expocentre experience. “It was a little bit different. We tried to make it work for us. I think that we’ve fought long and hard to play in Horejsi. We’re really excited we actually have the opportunity to do so. Dreams came true,” she added.
KU likes playing in Horejsi for many reasons.
“The fans and the band. It’s always full in there. You hear it,” Soucie said. “I don’t even know how to explain it. They get pumped. You can hear them get pumped.”
“It feels more like a family vibe,” Dockery said. “I feel it’ll be good for the other teams as well because it’s not in such a huge arena and it kind of brings the fans closer to us. We’re used to playing in Horejsi so I think that’s a good thing for us.”
In order to set up a possible Border War contest against Missouri for Friday, KU must knock off a Furman team that has won five matches in a row, including a 3-0 win over Chattanooga in the title game of the Southern Conference Tournament. Furman has defeated larger schools South Carolina and Clemson this season.
“They have great offensive balance,” KU coach Ray Bechard said. “She (senior setter Jo Wilks) gets a sense for who has it going and who doesn’t. She distributes the ball extremely well. She always puts a hittable ball out there and puts her hitters (including Southern Conference player of the year Annie Bierman) in good position. One of the keys is, ‘How do we slow them down?’ They are hitting .250 and getting over 14 kills per set,” Bechard added.
He’s hoping the Jayhawks merely build on their successful season today.
“A lot of people say, ‘Hey you’ve got to rise to the occasion.’ Really you’ve just got to fall back on your training and trust your training,” Bechard said. “You don’t have to be special. You have to be good like you’ve been all year. I thought that was real wise advice from somebody we trust quite a bit.”
That would be the Marine who put the Jayhawks through a conditioning and team-bonding activity called “The Program” in the preseason.
“Everybody thinks, ‘Oh you’ve got to be this, got to be that.’ No, trust your training and all the things your teammates have done for you all year,” Bechard said.
The bottom line?
“We want to have a 2-0 week and figure out what lies ahead,” Bechard said, noting that’s been the mantra during the entire Big 12 season with matches on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
But what about the potential Mizzou matchup?
“Missouri State is going to have a lot to say with that. I’m sure Furman would, too, but those (KU, MU) are the two highest-seeded teams here. I think it’d be a great opportunity for our program. They’ve had an outstanding year. They might be a little disappointed they are not hosting themselves. I’m sure they were in the discussion … I’m sure it would be highly entertaining and high-level volleyball,” Bechard said.
If KU beats Furman and MU topples Missouri State.
“They are scrappy and will play all-out just like any other team is going to,” Soucie said of the Paladins.