KU Volleyball: A&M edges Kansas

Jayhawks' big numbers can't keep Aggies from 3-2 victory

Five career-highs and a school-record weren’t enough for Kansas University’s volleyball team Wednesday against Texas A&M.

Three different players recorded at least one career-best, and setter Andi Rozum broke the KU freshman assist record against the Aggies, but the Jayhawks lost, 3-2 (26-30, 30-27, 30-26, 16-30, 12-15), at Horejsi Center.

Kansas (17-7 overall, 8-7 Big 12) dropped the first game, committing seven attack errors and six service errors.

“I think if we serve a little better in Game One, it’s 3-0,” Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. “They hung in there and we weren’t real clean at the end of Game Five. You play two hours and 20 minutes and come up a little bit short.”

Kansas tied the match in Game Two behind nine kills from Josiane Lima :quot; who finished with a career-high 20 kills :quot; and took a 2-1 lead after three games. The Jayhawks held the Aggies (18-7, 10-6) to a .050 hitting percentage in the third game.

It was the Jayhawks’ turn to hit poorly in Game Four, though, as Texas A&M outhit Kansas .400 to .071.

Kansas University junior Sarah Rome celebrates a point during the Jayhawks' match against Texas A&M on Wednesday at the Horejsi Center. The Aggies won the match, 3-2.

“I think that we gave pretty good effort in games two and three,” Bechard said, “and they knew they had to pick it up. It’s very difficult when you get in a big hole. I don’t think we cashed it in, but it’s tough. We knew we needed to save some effort for that last game.”

Kansas led 11-9 in the final game before Texas A&M finished the match with a 6-1 run. It was the Aggies’ 15th victory in as many matches against the Jayhawks.

Rozum had career-highs with eight kills and 59 assists, one more assist than she recorded against Colorado on Sept. 25. She now has 968 assists, topping Leslie Steinert’s 923 assists in the 1992 season.

“I’m happy about it, but it would have been nicer to win,” Rozum said.

KU's Josiane Lima flips the ball over the net during Wednesday's match against Texas A&M.

Sophomore outside hitter Lindsey Morris received her seventh start of the season and set career-highs in kills (16) and attacks (47).

“It was just a great team effort and everyone played really well,” Morris said, “and I think a lot of people had a lot of highs tonight. Me doing my thing helped everybody else. I was just trying to help my team.”

Although Kansas lost, Bechard said he was pleased with the team’s effort and not worried about the Jayhawks’ two-game losing streak heading into Saturday’s game against Baylor in Waco, Texas.

“Like I told the team, I think that kind of effort will allow you to have success at Baylor,” Bechard said. “I think it will allow you to have success in your last two home matches and that’s what we have to look to now.”