Kansas City
5-18,3-9Summit League
Denver
10-13,5-8Summit League
Roos Take Down Pioneers In Four-Set Road Win
11/7/2024 11:05:00 PM | Volleyball
Motta's Season-High 5 Aces Power Kansas City Victory
DENVER, CO -Â Kansas City powered past Denver in four sets (25-18, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17) The Roo's offense clicked on all cylinders tonight, hitting .250 while Sydney Henry orchestrated the attack with 54 assists. The serving game proved decisive as Maria Eduarda Motta delivered a season-high 5 aces, including three straight during a pivotal third-set run for her total of five for the match. Kansas City's front row, anchored by Ledisi Kpea's 4 blocks limited Denver to a .179 hitting percentage.
SET-BY-SET VS. Denver
SET ONE / 25-18: Kansas City opened with a commanding 6-1 lead behind impactful kills from Kaia Dunford and Sila Ozyurek, both set up beautifully by Sydney Henry. The Roos' defense was formidable, with key blocks from Kpea and Ozyurek keeping Denver at bay. They extended their lead to 18-9 with strong kills by Henry and Nyle Mathis. Dunford's final kill, assisted by Henry, sealed the 25-18 win.
SET TWO / 22-25: Kansas City battled throughout the second set with strong offensive contributions. Dunford continued her impact with timely kills assisted by Henry, while Ledisi Kpea added crucial points that brought the Roos within striking distance at 20-22. Henry's service ace kept them competitive at 7-7. Despite back-to-back points and a Kaliee Deffebaugh ace bringing them to 22-24, Denver closed out the set 25-22.
SET THREE / 25-23: The Roos exploded to a 6-0 start behind Motta's three consecutive service aces. Dunford and Kpea maintained momentum, pushing the lead to 10-4. As Denver mounted a comeback to 19-15, Brooke Boyer's service ace helped steady the ship. Despite Denver's push to 24-23, Kpea and Dunford secured the final points for the crucial 25-23 win.
SET FOUR / 25-17: Kansas City dominated early, building a 5-0 lead with Leah Green's back-to-back aces. Dunford and Kpea continued their strong play with crucial kills, expertly set up by Henry, maintaining control at 15-11. Deffebaugh added a timely ace, while Kpea's impressive blocking disrupted Denver's rhythm. Dunford's final kill brought them to set point before a Denver service error sealed the 25-17 win.
STATS TO NOTE
- Kansas City significantly outperformed Denver across the offensive board, maintaining a .250 hitting percentage. The Roos' offensive efficiency was highlighted by Sydney Henry's 54 assists.
- Kansas City dominated from the service line with 13 aces to Denver's 7, led by Motta's season-high performance of 5 aces. Motta's exceptional serving was particularly evident in the third set where she fired three consecutive aces during a crucial 6-0 opening run.
- The Roos' front-row defense proved formidable with 14 block assists. Kpea led the blocking effort with 4 block assists, while Ozyurek contributed 2 blocks, helping Kansas City maintain defensive pressure throughout the match. Their combined blocking effort significantly disrupted Denver's offensive rhythm.Â
UP NEXT:
Volleyball returns home to host St.Thomas on Saturday November 9th at 1pmÂ
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