Kansas City
18-7,9-4Summit League
Denver
11-11,10-4Summit League
Warren's Career-High Lifts Roos to Senior Day Victory over Pioneers
11/4/2023 6:04:00 PM | Volleyball
Odyssey Warren went for 27 kills as Kansas City took down the league-leading Pioneers in five sets
KANSAS CITY -Â Kansas City Volleyball (18-7, 9-4 Summit) had to fight for every point against Denver (11-11, 10-4 Summit) this afternoon, but emerged victorious in five sets, 3-2 (18-25, 26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 16-14). Odyssey Warren was the star of the show, finishing with a career-high 27 kills and nine digs to will the Roos to victory. The Roos also had success attacking out of the middle, as Carly Gillen finished with 11 kills on .474 hitting and Kimora Whetstone had seven kills on .462 hitting. Following the match, seniors Warren, Gillen, Kaia Dunford and Samantha Moburg were all honored for their time spent in the Roo blue and gold.
SET-BY-SET
- SET ONE / 18-25 | Denver used an early run to open up a four-point lead, and from that point the set was even. The Roos had success attacking from the outside with Warren and Dunford but had no answer for the Pioneer attack as Denver hit at a .625 clip en route to a set victory.
- SET TWO / 26-24 | Kansas City picked up its first block of the day from Warren and Gillen, drawing ahead, 4-3 early. Play was even until Caroline Keithley stepped up to serve, sending across an ace and sparking a five-point KC run to establish an 11-7 lead. Denver stayed within striking distance, but the Roos maintained the lead and forced a DU timeout, leading 18-14 after a kill by Warren. After tying the set, 22-22, the Pioneers forced Kansas City to burn both of its timeouts. The Roos responded with back-to-back kills by Warren and Gillen, and after Denver forced extra play, the same duo secured the set.
- SET THREE /Â 25 - 21 | Ozyurek and Whetstone took the initiative in the first two points of the set. The Pios attempted to halt the Roos, but the Roos managed a four-point scoring run, limiting Denver to just one point out of their six. Denver fought back, narrowing the gap to a two-point game, but Dunford delivered a crucial kill to maintain the Roos' momentum, making it 19-16. Warren sealed the set by scoring on three separate occasions.
- SET FOUR / 22 - 25 | Dunford initiates the opening point, but Denver, seeking revenge, embarks on a four-point scoring run, taking a 1-4 lead. Whetstone makes a strong push for the Pioneers' court, with the Pioneers managing to regain one point. Warren steps in and halts their momentum, scoring two points to make it a two-point game at 5-7. Denver maintains its lead in the set until Whetstone and Warren exchange kills, leveling the score at 21-21. Despite their efforts, the Roos couldn't secure the win, and the Pioneers ultimately claimed the set
- SET FIVEÂ / 16 - 14 | In the set, Denver seizes control with a five-point surge, and Sydney Henry facilitates a swift kill for Ozyurek. Denver quickly counters, extending their lead to 6-1. Kansas City stages a comeback, exchanging points and leveling the set at 12-12. As the two teams continue to trade points, Whetstone and Warren each contribute two crucial kills. However, an ill-advised set by Denver and a service ace by Leah Green secured the match and knocked Denver into the number-two spot in the Summit League.
STATS TO NOTE
- Warren's 27 kills set her career-high for the third time this season, and is the most by a Kansas City player since Emily Lucas went for 30 kills against South Dakota State on Oct. 5, 2012.
- After not blocking a single attack in the first set, the Roos out-blocked the Pioneers, 8-6, in the final four sets.
- The Roos saved their most potent attack for the final set, sending across eight kills with zero errors on 21 attempts for a .321 hitting percentage.
- Leah Green led Kansas City's defense with 15 digs, while Dunford and Henry notched 10 apiece. Dunford and Henry both notched double-doubles on the day.
UP NEXTÂ
Kansas City is traveling north to face North Dakota State and North Dakota in their final away games of the regular season.
