Kansas’ Allison Mayfield (15) taps the ball over Middle Tennessee Tech defenders in KU’s loss on Tuesday at Horejsi Center.

After opening its season with seven straight victories for its best start since 2004, the Kansas University volleyball team suffered its first loss on Tuesday. Middle Tennessee State swept the Jayhawks, 25-19, 25-15, 25-19, at the Horejsi Center.

KU red-shirt freshman Caroline Jarmoc collected five kills on a team-high .273 attack percentage, but the Kansas offense struggled with errors while the Blue Raiders (4-4) hit .316 on the night, the best hitting efficiency of any KU opponent this season. Middle Tennessee State also out-blocked KU, 13-7, and recorded 40 digs compared to the Jayhawks’ 25.

“Middle Tennessee State is a very talented team,” KU coach Ray Bechard said. “If you don’t do certain things to slow them down offensively, they can create a lot of issues for you, and that’s what they did tonight.

“I know we have a team that is very disappointed. We have got to be better offensively, and we have to be better defensively. It was kind of a break down on both sides of that tonight.”

Junior outside hitter Allison Mayfield led Kansas with seven kills, while senior Karina Garlington matched Jarmoc with five kills.

KU concludes its eight-match homestand this weekend when it hosts the Kansas Invitational. The Jayhawks will take on Winthrop and No. 18 Northern Iowa on Friday and Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday.