Sept. 24, 2005

Box Score

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Baylor fought to the finish, pushing two of the three games to extra points, but came up short in a 3-0 (29-31, 23-30, 30-32) loss to No. 24 Kansas in Big 12 Conference volleyball action. Saturday night at the Horejsi Family Athletic Center. Junior outside hitter Nicole LeBlanc (Tampa, Fla.) led the Bears with a match-high 14 kills.

Senior middle blocker Stella Odion (Houston, Texas) and senior outside hitter Melanie Hamerly (Orange, Texas) each added 10 kills, and Odion posted a match-high five blocks. Senior defensive specialist Maggie Chlebana (Calgary, Alberta) led the Bears (9-5, 1-2 Big 12) with 14 digs, while sophomore libero Kristen Schramek (San Antonio, Texas) had 12 and senior setter Emily Huston had 11. Huston also had 29 assists and four blocks, three of them solo.

Jana Correa led Kansas (11-2, 3-1) with 13 kills, while Josi Lima pitched in with 10. Jamie Matheson posted a match-high 19 digs, while Andi Rozum had 12 and Emily Brown 11.

After falling behind 15-10 in game one, Baylor rallied to cut the lead to 16-14 and tied the game at 18. The Bears gained their first lead since 1-0 at 23-22, but the Jayhawks retook the advantage at 28-27. The two sides traded sideouts until Kansas came up with the final two points to take a 31-29 decision. Odion led the way for the Bears with six kills in the game, while LeBlanc and Hamerly each had five. Hamerly recorded her five kills on each of her first five swings.

Kansas scored five of the first six points of game two and never looked back as they took a 2-0 lead into the intermission. The Bears got within three at 18-15, but fell behind 26-19 after a three straight points by the Jayhawks. After falling behind 29-20, the Bears scored three straight before dropping the game, 30-23. Kansas hit .370 in the game, while holding Baylor to .043.

The Bears jumped out to a 5-2 lead in game three, but the Jayhawks scored eight of nine points to take a 12-8 lead. Baylor fought back to 21-20, but Kansas pulled away to a 29-25 lead. The Bears answered by fighting off four match points to tie the game at 29-29 and their third straight block gave them a 30-29 lead. The Jayhawks responded by scoring the final three points of the match for a 32-30 win.

Kansas outhit Baylor .215-.101, the Bears lowest offensive output of the season. The Jayhawks also outdug the Bears, 66-59, but the Bears took the edge in blocks, 12.0-9.0.

The Bears return to action when they host No. 8 Missouri Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Center.