Kansas City
Grand Canyon
?Roos Comeback To Knock-Off Lopes 3-2 In WAC Opener
10/3/2014 1:42:00 AM | Volleyball
(Kansas City, Mo.) – The Missouri-Kansas City volleyball team (12-3, 1-0) notched its eighth straight victory of the season after knocking off Grand Canyon (11-6, 1-3) in its WAC opener, 3-2 on Thursday night at Antelope Gymnasium in Phoenix, Ariz.
As a team, the 'Roos hit .240 in the match, with Sydney Crimmins leading the attack with 17 kills at a .350 clip, while Emma Hagedorn tallied 15 kills and a .448 hitting percentage and Melissa Hartsel notched 11 kills and a .476 hitting percentage from the middle.
In the match's opening set, the 'Roos led by as many as five, but the Lopes would comeback to grab a 1-0 lead in the match, after winning the set with a 29-27 victory in extra points.
In set two, however, UMKC would dominate to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-16 win. The Kangaroos opened the set with seven of the first eight points, before stretching its lead to as many as 11 at 23-12 after three straight GCU errors. The Lopes would close the gap to as little as seven, but a kill by Crimmins, followed by a GCU error gave the 'Roos the victory.
Coming out of the intermission, Grand Canyon would regain control of the match with a victory in the third set. GCU built a seven point lead early in the set and held a 20-15 advantage late when the 'Roos mounted their comeback, tying the score at 21 before going in front 23-21. The 'Roos would then have three chances serving for set point, but the Lopes would not relent and finally take the set in their fourth chance at set point, winning 32-30.
Facing their first loss in nearly a month, the 'Roos would force a fifth and deciding set with a 25-23 win in the fourth set. UMKC trailed late at 19-17, but tied the score on a kill from Hagedorn. The score would remain tied at 23-23 when a kill from Hartsel and an ace from Jessica Hendin forced a fifth and deciding set.
In the final set, UMKC quickly gained control, going ahead 6-0 in the set. GCU would close the gap to as little as three at 9-7, but back-to-back kills from Hagedorn and Hendin stretched the lead to four, while blocks from Hagedorn and Skyler Muff and Hagedorn and Hendin sent the 'Roos to their eighth straight win.
In the match, Crimmins (17 kills, 17 digs), Hendin (14 kills, 23 digs) and Kaylyn Brandt (39 assists, 10 digs) all notched double-doubles, while Taryn Miller added 26 digs and Nicole Wemhoff registered 24 assists.
At the net, Hagedorn led the 'Roos with eight blocks, while Muff and Hartsel each had six of the team's 15.
The Blue & Gold will be back in action again on Saturday when they head to Bakersfield, Calif., to take on Bakersfield with a shot at their school record tying ninth win in a row.
