Kansas City
3-5
South Dakota State
3-7
Volleyball Uses Balanced Attack to Take Down SDSU
9/21/2019 2:36:00 PM | Volleyball
Roos Emerge from Jackrabbit Invitational with 2-1 Record
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City volleyball team went into Saturday's match against South Dakota State looking to emerge from an early season tournament with a winning record for the first time this season. After a shaky first set, they were able to cruise through the next three to defeat the Jackrabbits, 3-1 (14-25, 25-15, 25-16, 25-10).
The Roos and Jackrabbits looked to be equals at the beginning of the match, trading off the first eight points to a 4-4 tie. SDSU then found their attack while Kansas City was stuck searching for a rhythm, and created separation to clinch the first set. The Roos hit -.027 as a team in the first set, but it wouldn't take long for them to find their stride.
"Our staff was disappointed in how we competed in the first set," Head Coach Christi Posey said. "SDSU executed well and we had a poor response to their play."
Kansas City came out firing in set number two, targeting Mykal Sadler on slides around the right side early and often. Sadler put down four kills in the second set, leading the Roos. South Dakota State seemed shaken from the beginning, ending the second with six attack errors.
Ty Lukes took over for Kansas City in the third. She paced the Roos with three kills in the first seven points, and the Roos controlled from the beginning. They took a wire-to-wire third set victory, led by Lukes with five kills.
Victory seemed assured for Kansas City in the fourth set. They jumped out to a 10-4 lead behind kills from five different players and never looked back. Mack Blatcher entered the service rotation and added some variety for the Roos, sending across two aces.Â
"With a higher level of focus and purpose, our team rallied and played more together in sets two through four," Posey said.
A balanced attack has been the motto for Kansas City since the beginning of the season, and they used it well against the Jackrabbits. Melanie Brecka ended the match with a team-leading 13 kills, but she was followed not far behind by Lukes (12), Sadler (12) and Alicia Harrington (11). Alli Schomers followed up a career-best 53 assist performance last night with another strong showing, dishing out 49 assists in the victory.
Three Roos were named to the All-Tournament team, in Sadler, Lukes and Alex Ratzlaff. Sadler and Lukes showed that consistency is key, finishing the weekend with .358 and .442 hitting percentages, respectively. Ratzlaff led the team with 47 digs in three matches, adding seven assists.Â
"That fight and competitiveness is exactly what we need against every team in the WAC," Posey said. "I don't believe we've played our best volleyball consistently, but we're making positive strides in that direction."
Up Next
The Roos open up conference play with a home-stand next week, taking on CSU Bakersfield on Thursday at 7 p.m. before challenging California Baptist on Saturday at 1 p.m.
