While Kansas University’s volleyball team belted out the ‘Rock Chalk’ chant following its 3-2 victory over Baylor Saturday night at the Horejsi Center, KU coach Ray Bechard sat on the bench rubbing his temples and staring at the floor.

As he rose to his feet to join his ecstatic squad, Bechard let out a loud “Whoo” and shook his head.

This one wasn’t easy.

Kansas won the first game, 30-28, but dropped the next two, 25-30 and 26-30. A 30-21 Jayhawk victory in Game Four forced a final game. Kansas trailed 14-10 in Game Five before rattling off six unanswered points for the 16-14 victory.

“At the end … I just … I’m not sure I believe what I just saw,” Bechard said, struggling for words to explain his squad’s last-second knockout.

Most KU players were equally dazed as they filtered out of the locker room. Smiles glowed on each face — among looks of disbelief.

“Holy cow … That’s really all I’ve got right now,” said junior setter Ashley Bechard, who led the Jayhawks with 34 assists. “Holy cow. What a great, great win.”

Victory seemed destined to escape Kansas (10-4 overall, 2-1 Big 12 Conference) for much of the match. It faced early deficits in every game and had numerous rallies cut short by its 14 service errors, but the Jayhawks were clutch when it mattered.

Freshman Janaina Correa rolled her ankle early in Game Two, but responded by rattling off 18 kills and three aces. Junior Lindsey Morris provided 11 kills off the bench, including two that put away Game Four. Junior Ashley Michaels added 13 kills and six blocks. Junior libero Jill Dorsey had a match-high 17 digs, and sophomore setter Andi Rozum added 28 assists in her first start of the year.

The Kansas University volleyball team celebrates winning match point in the fifth game against Baylor. The Jayhawks beat the Bears, 3-2, Saturday at Horejsi Center.

Those efforts forced Game Five, which is when Sarah Rome went bonkers. The senior outside hitter sparked Kansas’ rally with her hustle and four of her game-high 21 kills.

“We came out kind of flat, so I felt like I needed to step up,” Rome said. “Everyone worked really hard, and I owe my teammates a lot because they passed and hit the ball well, too.”

Trailing 14-10, Kansas rallied. Rome hurled herself across the floor for a dig that led to a kill by Morris. Rome and Abbie Jacobson followed with kills, and a hitting error by Baylor (9-7, 2-2) tied the game.

Rome then smashed two more kills that put the match away and sent the crowd of 900-plus fans into a frenzy.

“Rome made some great plays down the stretch, and the team made some digs,” Ray Bechard said, “and we just held it together long enough for this crowd to kind of pick us and take us for the last couple of points.”

Kansas University junior middle blocker Ashley Michaels, right, blasts a spike past Baylor's Nicole LeBlanc. The Jayhawks beat the Bears, 3-2, Saturday at Horejsi Center.

The Jayhawks will travel to Columbia, Mo., Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match against Missouri at the Hearnes Center.