Kansas City
2-6,0-0Summit League
UT Martin
2-7,0-0OVC
Kansas City Roos Prevail in Four-Set Thriller Against UT Martin
9/14/2024 8:14:00 PM | Volleyball
Ozyurek’s Efficiency and Green’s Defense Seal the Win for KC
Columbia, MO - Kansas City outlasted UT Martin in a hard-fought four-set battle (25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 25-18). Kaia Dunford led the charge with 17 kills, posting a stellar .350 hitting percentage and contributing 17.5 points. Sydney Henry was pivotal with 50 assists, while Sila Ozyurek added 13 kills with a .591 hitting percentage. Defensively, Leah Green anchored the back row with 21 digs, and Ledisi Kpea added 4 blocks to secure the Roos' victory.
SET-BY-SET VS. UT Martin
SET ONE / 25-17: A quick attack from Kimora Whetstone, set up by Sydney Henry, kicked off the Roos' 25-17 set win. Nyle Mathis carried the momentum, and Doga Eski aced the Roos to a 3-1 lead. Both teams battled to 7-7 before KC pulled away with a 5-point run, ignited by Sila Ozyurek, forcing a Skyhawks timeout at 13-9. UT Martin tried to rally, but Whetstone's attack stopped their 3-point streak at 15-12. After another Skyhawks timeout, Ledisi Kpea pushed KC into the 20s, and Whetstone, Ozyurek, and Dunford finished off the set.
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SET TWO / 25-17: The teams traded points early until KC pulled ahead with a 3-point streak to make it 6-3. Kaia Dunford, tired of the back-and-forth, delivered two consecutive kills, forcing a UT Martin timeout at 10-6. The Roos continued to dominate, holding the Skyhawks to single digits at 17-9. A block by Whetstone and an attack error sealed the set for KC.
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SET THREE / 19-25:The Skyhawks jumped out to a 5-3 lead, determined to claim this set. Both teams traded points, but the Roos continued to trail UT Martin after a kill from Dunford, making it 13-17. Despite KC's efforts to close the gap, the Skyhawks took the set 25-19.
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SET FOUR / 25- 18: The Roos took control early, holding the Skyhawks to a 10-5 lead after an ace by Brooke Boyer. KC kept pushing as Mathis and Henry both notched kills right out of a timeout, extending the lead to 17-11. A four-point run sealed the match, with two kills from Ozyurek delivering the final blow to UT Martin.
STATS TO NOTE
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Kaia Dunford led the offensive charge with 17 kills, hitting an impressive .350 while adding 12 digs and racking up 17.5 total points for the Roos.
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Sila Ozyurek was highly efficient, with 13 kills and a remarkable .591 hitting percentage, contributing 13.5 total points.
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Leah Green anchored the defense with 21 digs, keeping the back row steady throughout the match.
UP NEXT:
The Roos will kick off their annual Kangaroo Klassic on Friday, September 20th, with a match against Lindenwood, followed by contests against Montana and Bradley.
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