By Grant Morrison | Sports Writer
No. 17 Baylor volleyball suffered a defeat against No. 12 Kansas, falling in straight sets with scores of 25-22, 26-24, and 25-17 on Saturday, during a highly competitive match at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena in Lawrence. The powerful and precise hitting from the Jayhawks proved too formidable for the Bears as they effectively ended Baylor’s impressive eight-game winning streak.
Leading the Big 12 in points, kills, assists, blocks, digs and hitting percentage, the Jayhawks (22-3, 13-2) maintained their strong home court advantage, remaining undefeated in conference play. Key contributions came from three different Jayhawks, each recording double-digit kills throughout the match, while senior setter Camryn Turner orchestrated the offense beautifully with an impressive total of 40 assists.
Baylor (18-7, 10-4) began the match with a series of consistent and efficient attacks, taking an early 8-4 lead, propelled by powerful kills from senior outside hitter Elise McGhee and a pivotal block from redshirt junior middle blocker Alicia Andrew. The Bears exhibited determination early, showcasing their skills against a tough opponent.
A smattering of errors on both sides of the net, including nine by the Jayhawks and six by the Bears, tightened the competition in the first set, resulting in a narrow Kansas lead of 23-21. In the crucial moments, the Jayhawks’ senior outside hitter Ayah Elnady delivered essential kills that clinched the first set for Kansas.
The Jayhawks struggled with service errors throughout all three sets, ending the match with a total of 12, compared to the Bears’ disciplined four. A pair of service errors gifted Baylor an early lead in the second set, which was then bolstered by a service ace from sophomore defensive specialist Tehani Ulufatu, extending the score to 9-6 in favor of the Bears.
Junior opposite hitter Allie Sczech joined Andrew in securing a series of strong blocks, with Andrew leading both teams with an impressive six overall. However, the Kansas defense posed a significant challenge for the Bears, making it difficult for them to find offensive success. Even when the Jayhawks’ blocks didn’t score immediate points, their towering presence at the middle blocker position effectively neutralized the impact of Baylor’s attacks.
Despite Baylor outblocking Kansas in the second set, the Jayhawks managed to take it 26-24, showing resilience and skill in tight situations.
“I like how we camped out to battle in the first two sets,” head coach Ryan McGuyre emphasized. “I thought either of them could have gone either way,” highlighting the close competition between the two teams.
Baylor started the third set with a quick 2-0 lead before Kansas responded with four unanswered points, driven by the strong serves from senior outside hitter Caroline Bien. McGhee and Sczech countered with impressive kills to tie the match at four, but the teams continued to exchange points until the Jayhawks took a 10-9 lead.
From that point, Kansas surged ahead, while Baylor struggled to find a solution to mitigate the Jayhawks’ aggressive play. Elnady dominated the court alongside the relentless Onabanjo, outpacing the Bears with a hitting percentage of .421 to .182 in the decisive third set.
After an 8-2 run orchestrated by the Jayhawks, McGuyre called a timeout in hopes of regrouping, but his efforts were ultimately in vain. Kansas’s combination of ruthless dump kills and solid defensive play allowed them to seal the match with a commanding 25-17 victory in the final set.
With this setback, Baylor slips to fourth place in the competitive Big 12 standings with only four games remaining in the regular season. The Bears are set to face Texas Tech (13-12, 5-8) in their next matchup, scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Ferrell Center, where they’ll seek redemption and a much-needed win.
What strategies does Coach McGuyre plan to implement to minimize errors in future matches?
**Interview with Baylor Volleyball Head Coach, Ryan McGuyre**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Coach McGuyre. It was a tough match against Kansas. What are your thoughts on how the team performed overall?
**Coach McGuyre:** Thanks for having me. We started off strong, showing some determination with an early lead in the first set. However, the Jayhawks played very efficiently and made it hard for us to find our rhythm. I’m proud of my players for their effort, but we need to work on minimizing our errors, especially in crucial moments.
**Editor:** The team did lead early in both the first and second sets. What do you think led to the shift in momentum?
**Coach McGuyre:** Their experience and depth really came into play. Kansas has some outstanding athletes, and they capitalized on our weaknesses as the match progressed. While we started with great energy, we allowed their serving and hitting to dictate the pace. Their key players came through when it mattered most.
**Editor:** Speaking of errors, it was noted that service errors were a struggle for Kansas. Do you think the pressure of the match contributed to these mistakes?
**Coach McGuyre:** Absolutely. High-stakes matches like this can shake even the most seasoned players. Every point counts, and that pressure can lead to uncharacteristic errors. However, we also need to capitalize on those opportunities and make our opponents pay for their mistakes.
**Editor:** With this loss ending an eight-game winning streak, how do you plan to refocus and bounce back for the remainder of the season?
**Coach McGuyre:** We’ll take this as a learning experience. We’ll review film, address the areas we need to improve, and refocus our efforts on our next opponent. The Big 12 is a competitive conference, and we have to stay mentally tough. I believe in this team, and we’ll come back stronger.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach McGuyre. Best of luck with the rest of the season!
**Coach McGuyre:** Thank you for having me! Go Bears!