Kansas City
10-3,1-0Summit League
Omaha
1-10,0-1Summit League
Roos Open Summit League Play with Thrilling Five Set Win over Omaha
9/21/2023 11:38:00 PM | Volleyball
Three Roos finished with double-digit kills as the team clinched its 10th victory of the season
OMAHA, Neb. - Kansas City reenters the winner's circle against Omaha. The Roos' volleyball team used a well-distributed attack to secure their first Summit League victory, earning a 3-2 win (21-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-27, 15-12). Sydney Henry ran the offense efficiently, finishing with 44 assists. Carly Gillen and Kaia Dunford both completed the match with 16 kills each
SET-BY-SET VS. Omaha Â
- SET ONE / 21 - 25 | Kimora Whetstone scores the opening point for the Roos, courtesy of a pass from  Henry. Dunford serves an Ace, and Sila Ozyurek nails a kill. Roos lead 2-1. Mavericks stage a comeback, but Gillen's clutch kill makes it 15-17. Blair Taylor sets up Sydney Henry for a thunderous slam, and Henry follows up by setting up Odyssey Warren for her 13th kill. Following a timeout, Gillen comes through with a pivotal kill for KC . Both the Roos and Mavericks exchange points, but a series of errors by the Roos ultimately leads to dropped setÂ
- SET TWO / 25 - 12 |.The Roos started set two with a scorching pace. Dunford kicked it off with a fiery swing, and Warren swiftly followed suit, taking the score to 6-2. The Roos continued their dominance as Dunford unleashed two consecutive unstoppable kills, forcing the Mavericks to call a timeout at 14-6. Henry then orchestrated a series of perfect sets, positioning the Roos for game point, and Warren sealed the deal with an ace, securing the victory in set two
- SET THREE / 25 - 23| Dunford swiftly notches her 8th kill, sparking an intense seesaw battle between the Mavericks and Roos. Henry's precise setup for Ozyurek results in a thunderous kill, but the Roos had to mount a comeback due to their 8-10 deficit. KC finds themselves in a demanding situation. Gillen, showcasing her skills, clinches both a kill and a pivotal block against the Mavericks, prompting them to request a timeout. Gillen, leaving her mark for the second time following the timeout, secures another kill. Finally, Dunford feeds the ball to Warren, culminating in a spectacular kill that clinches the set victory
- SET FOUR / 25 - 27Â | Whetstone and Dunford team up for a pivotal block, securing KC's first point in response to the Mavericks' early three, shifting the score to 1-3. In a protracted rally, Gillen unleashes a kill, edging the Roos closer at 6-5. Dunford counters the Mavericks' three-point surge, closing the gap to 12-14 as KC initiates their comeback bid. Warren delivers a crushing kill, and Gillen punctuates it with another powerful strike, making it 15-16. The Mavericks and Roos continue their neck-and-neck battle, with Henry receiving a flawless setup for a game-tying kill at 19-19. The Mavericks inch towards game point, but Warren's clutch kill, followed by an ACE from Leah Green, keeps the Roos' fight alive. Unfortunately, two crucial attack errors will prove to be the Roos' undoing in set four.
- SET FIVE / 15 - 12 | Warren quickly corrects her attack error and comes down hard with a kill after the Mavs collect two early points. Dunford makes her presence known with a backcourt kill, making it 5-3. The Roos and Mavs once again exchange kills, and a final kill by Warren followed by a game-winning ace by Blair Taylor gives the Roos their first Summit League conference win.
STATS TO NOTE
- Gillen (16), Dunford (16), and Warren (13) all tallied double-digit kills
- Â Green's performance stands out as she records three aces and 24 digs, leading in both categories for both teams, in contrast to the Mavericks' leaders with 16 digs and 2 aces
- KC held the Mavericks to a hitting percentage of just .124, while maintaining a solid .208 hitting percentage themselves
COACH CHRISTI POSEY, QUOTED
"A hard fought win after some scrappy defensive play and a very good offensive performance by Gillen, Dunford and Ozyurek mixed up their shots well to add good balance."Â
"I thought we blocked their middles pretty well but left some room for a couple of pins to score often. Leah was terrific and continues to anchor our defense to transition."
"We are very pleased to come away with a satisfying win in a challenging place to play against a quality opponent. We'll need to serve tougher and error less as we continue through Summit League play."
UP NEXTÂ
This weekend, the Roos will be playing on their home court as they face off against South Dakota StateÂ
