Kansas City
5-6,0-1WAC
CSU Bakersfield
5-7,0-1WAC
Volleyball Opens WAC Play with First Sweep of the Year
9/26/2019 10:06:00 PM | Volleyball
Roos Use Early Momentum to Take Care of CSUB
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After what the team considered to be a disappointing non-conference performance, the Kansas City volleyball squad knew they needed to enter Western Athletic Conference play with strength. They entered the season picked to finish third in the conference, but after beginning their season 4-6, began conference play in the seventh spot. Strength is exactly what they showed in their conference opener against CSU Bakersfield, using strong play all around to take their first sweep of the season, 25-17, 25-19, 25-14.
"I think being at home and being jacked about conference play gave them a little juice," Head Coach Christi Posey said. "That laid the ground work for what eventually happened."
The Roos showed from the beginning that they were not there to mess around. Ty Lukes carried her strong play from the Jackrabbit invitational last weekend into the first set, throwing down six kills on eight attacks for a .625 hitting percentage. It was just the third set one victory on the season for Kansas City, as they have had some trouble opening up matches in their first ten games.
"After looking at some total statistics and trends from [non-conference play], we had not been tremendously successful in game one, so that was a focus for us today." Posey said.
Defensively, the Roos stood out in the second set. They had pestered the 'Runners in the first set, holding them to a -.024 hitting percentage, and came out with focus at the net in the second. Lukes and Alicia Harrington each had solo blocks, and Melanie Brecka, Mykal Sadler and Alli Schomers got in on the action as well. The Roos came out of the second with eight total blocks, six coming in the second set alone.
"This was probably our best performance defensively," Posey said. "We were able to score points from block defense, and then dig to convert. That was great to see, because we've been working hard in that area."
Kansas City made sure there was no doubt about it in the third set, opening up with an 8-0 run on the serve of Maddie Renn. From there, they were able to coast to victory, winning their WAC-opening match for the fourth consecutive year. Lukes ended the game with a match high 10 kills on .615 attacking, followed closely by Brecka and Sadler with eight and Harrington with seven. The Roos ended the match with 10 total blocks, a season-high thrice achieved. Ratzlaff led Kansas City in back-line defense, digging up 14 attacks.
"We were really, really pleased, because things were certainly flowing, and the team was rallying around each other," Posey said. "It's always great to start the conference season with a victory."
The Roos will have little time to celebrate their win, as they are back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m., taking on California Baptist.
