Austin, Texas ? Kansas University’s volleyball team will try to avoid playing its fifth straight five-game match when it takes on Texas at 7 tonight.

The Jayhawks (15-7 overall, 7-6 Big 12 Conference) are 5-6 in five-game matches this year, including 3-4 in Big 12 play. They had dropped two in a row prior to an emotional come-from-behind victory Wednesday over No. 25 Missouri.

“We’re just relieved that we were able to make some plays there at the end,” KU coach Ray Bechard said. “We know how crucial a match it was, and it’ll magnify itself later when crucial choices are made come NCAA Tournament time.”

The match with Texas is equally important. The Longhorns (11-11, 6-7) currently are seventh in the Big 12, one spot behind Kansas. The Jayhawks won the previous meeting 3-2 in Lawrence, so sweeping the series would give them the tie-breaker.

In addition, a victory could help propel Kansas into the NCAA Tournament because a friendly schedule remains. KU still has the bottom four teams in the Big 12 left on its slate, along with No. 10 Nebraska and No. 21 Texas A&M.