Kansas City
South Dakota
Kangaroos Knock Off Coyotes In Five Set Comeback
9/29/2012 10:23:00 PM | Volleyball
Freshman Jessica Hendin notched her second double-double of the year with 16 kills and a career-high 17 digs, while fellow freshman Nicole Wemhoff reached career-highs with 33 assists and 14 digs for her sixth double-double of the season.
In the opening set, the Coyotes took an early 3-2 lead, but three straight by the 'Roos, including two kills by Hendin and one by Lucas, put Kansas City in front for the first time, 5-3. USD would close to within one on the next point, but back-to-back kills by freshman Skyler Muff and a block from senior Ella Meier and Muff increased the advantage to four. The 'Roos would extend their lead to as many as 11 before closing the set out 25-15.
In the second set, Kansas City built an 8-5 lead after 13 points, but the Yotes would use a 5-1 run to take a 10-9 lead in the set. USD would extend its lead to as many as five at 22-17, before the Kangaroos would began a comeback attempt starting with a Lucas kill.
An error by the Coyotes and a block by freshmen Sydney Crimmins and Emma Hagedorn, pulled the 'Roos to within two at 22-20, but, after trading the next two points, USD registered a block to bring them to set point. Three straight Hendin kills and a South Dakota error, though gave the 'Roos their first lead since 9-8 at 25-24. UMKC, however, could not complete the comeback, as South Dakota registered the final three points to even the match at 1-1 with a 27-25 victory.
Coming out of the intermission, the Coyotes would take their first lead of the match with a 25-21 third set win despite the 'Roos scoring six of the final nine points of the set.
In set four, the 'Roos would send the match to a fifth set for the fourth time in their last five matches with a 25-20 win. The 'Roos again jumped out to an early lead, going ahead 10-3 after back-to-back kills by Muff and Meier. Kansas City would stretch the lead to nine at 19-10, but South Dakota would battle back to trim the lead to three late at 21-18. The USD comeback, though, would fall short as Lucas would notch the final three points on kills to force the fifth set.
The 'Roos opened up a 7-3 lead in the deciding set after back-to-back kills from Lucas and an ace from Hendin, but South Dakota reeled off the next six points to take an 9-7 lead midway through the set. An error from USD and a Lucas kill evened the score at nine, but the Coyotes would notch the next two, to move ahead 11-9. The 'Roos would again even the match at 11, but USD regained the lead at 13-12. Kansas City, however, answered with a kill from Hagedorn and an ace from freshman Taryn Miller to force a timeout and put them at match point. The 'Roos would be unable to capitalize after a USD block, but after twice more serving for match point, the Kangaroos would earn the win when Lucas recorded her final two kills of the match to give Kansas City an 18-16 fifth set victory.
Defensively, five 'Roos finished with 10 or more digs, led by Miller and freshman Lindsay Zych with 27 and 18, respectively, while Muff's career-high six blocks led the squad at the net.
Offensively, Meier recorded 30 assists and Muff and Hagedorn ended the match with nine and eight kills, respectively.
The Blue & Gold will back in action again on Friday when they head to Brookings, S.D., to face South Dakota State at 7 p.m.
