And they’re off! KU volleyball heads to San Diego for Sweet 16

By Matt Tait     Dec 9, 2015

KU volleyball coach Ray Bechard waves to the crowd on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2015, as the team left form Horejsi Family Athletics center, and boarded a bus to the airport, as the Jayhawks head to San Diego for the Sweet 16, against Loyola Marymount on Friday.

The Kansas University volleyball team, ranked ninth in the country and seeded as the No. 9 overall team in this year’s NCAA Tournament, left Lawrence a little after noon today for the airport and a flight to San Diego, where the Jayhawks will play in the Sweet 16 for the second time in three seasons.

KU, which advanced to the San Diego regional site with home wins over Furman and Missouri, will play Loyola-Marymount at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a berth in the Elite Eight on the line.

LMU enters the match having won 5 straight matches while the Jayhawks enter at 28-2.

In case you missed it, here’s a look at some of what we’ve written so far this week about the volleyball team’s run in this year’s tournament. Be sure to stay logged on to KUsports.com throughout the week for much more from San Diego, as Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan will be on the ground in southern California.

Kansas University fans waved to the KU volleyball team on Wednesday Dec. 9, 2015, as the Jayhawks left form Horejsi Family Athletics center, and boarded a bus to the airport on their way to San Diego for the Sweet 16, against Loyola Marymount on Friday.

**Memories from 2003**
From Matt Tait: Former KU libero Jill Dorsey looks back at KU’s first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament and discusses why this team is ready to go farther.

**Ready for more**
From Matt Tait: Kansas learned a little something during its last trip to the Sweet 16 and the Jayhawks are ready to take the next step this weekend.

**Horejsi kind to Kansas**
From Matt Tait: The Jayhawks may have hosted NCAA Tournament matches for the fourth year in a row but playing in their home gym made it a different experience.

**Tiger Stew**
From Gary Bedore: KU swept Border War rival Mizzou in dramatic fashion to advance to the Sweet 16.

**On to the Next Round**
From Gary Bedore: The Jayhawks made quick work of Furman in Round 1 to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

**What’s Up, Dock?**
From Tom Keegan: Senior Tiana Dockery, the first KU player to appear in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments is living proof that Kansas volleyball is for real.

**Honors Roll In**
From KUsports.com KU coach Ray Bechard and sophomore setter Ainise Havili lead charge for KU’s all-Big 12 postseason honors.

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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.