On a day celebrating the careers of two Kansas seniors, Kansas volleyball fell 3-2 in a five-set thriller to Oklahoma inside Horesji Family Athletics Center. With the loss, KU closed out the 2018 regular season with a 15-12 overall record, including 8-8 in Big 12 Conference play.
The Jayhawks couldn’t get going offensively to begin the first set, trailing by as many as eight at one point. Junior outside hitter Ashley Smith sparked a 6-1 Kansas run before eventually dropping the set by a 25-18 margin.
Kansas then took a 10-8 lead for the first time on the day during a 4-0 run that was capped by three-straight OU attack errors. Neither team led by more than three points throughout the set, but it was the Jayhawks who came out victorious in the second set, 25-22, to even the match.
The Sooners took a 2-1 match advantage in set three behind 15 kills during 25-21 win. The Jayhawks forced a fifth set by ending the fourth set on a 4-1 run to claim the 25-22 win.
KU was unable to hang on, as Oklahoma ran away with a 15-8 win. Kansas finished off the 2018 campaign with five consecutive losses.
The Jayhawks’ postseason fate will be determined at 7:30 p.m. Sunday during the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show, which will be broadcasted on ESPNU.
