photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas setter Camryn Turner (22) dives to make a pass against Omaha on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in Lawrence.

The Jayhawks sealed a win in their first-round matchup against the Omaha Mavericks Thursday night in a three-set victory (25-16, 25-19, 28-26) in front of a sold-out Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

Kansas gets to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 after receiving the No. 4 seed in Wisconsin’s quarter of the bracket, and will face Penn State Friday.

This marks the first time the Jayhawks have hosted since renovations to Horejsi took place in 2019, which head coach Ray Bechard said made for a notable difference.

“Obviously, it’s always been a great place. But to have people up top, and somebody said that 98% of tickets purchased were scanned tonight, which is just unheard of,” he said. “So that’s just a true testament to this team and how this Jayhawk fan base has responded to them.”

Setter Camryn Turner agreed, noting the comfort that playing at home provides, which removes a layer of nervousness for the team.

“It’s just really special to have everyone on your side, especially when you’re at home,” outside hitter Caroline Bien added.

Kansas started its first-round match with plenty of power. Within 15 points, four Jayhawks had recorded a kill and three had recorded a block, allowing them to overcome some early miscommunications and establish an early 10-5 lead. The Mavericks were able to get back into it, rattling off a few two and three-point runs to keep their deficit manageable, but a service ace by Molly Schultz gave the Jayhawks a commanding 20-12 lead late, leading to another Omaha timeout.

Trading off points, Kansas got to its first set point thanks to Ayah Elnady’s team-leading fourth kill of the game before Toyosi Onabanjo won the first set 25-16 on a crafty block.

The Jayhawks continued with the balanced offensive approach they employed all year, as six players recorded at least one kill and five recorded a block. Mykayla Myers and Reagan Cooper combined for five blocks of their own.

In set two, it was the Mavericks that came out swinging. But a couple of early service errors kept the Jayhawks not far behind, even after a 3-0 run gave the Mavericks a 9-5 lead.

Kansas rallied, getting the deficit back to one quickly thanks to back-to-back aces by Turner. The two then traded off points again, until a Jayhawk 3-0 run gave them their first lead of the set at 13-12.

They continued to inch closer, especially thanks to the service errors that were piling up for Omaha. Eventually, a 22-18 Jayhawk lead forced another Mavericks timeout late in the set. Right out of that timeout, Onabanjo recorded another big block, and her kill two points later gave the Jayhawks a 25-19 second-set win.

Omaha once again started fast, recording six early kills to take an 8-4 lead and force a Kansas timeout. The Jayhawks were forced to call yet another timeout a few points later, as their offensive struggles and defensive miscommunications put them down 12-6.

After that stoppage, a quick 4-0 Jayhawks run, thanks to Omaha’s thirteenth service error of the game, cut the margin to three, and it was Omaha’s turn to call timeout. Cooper continued to carry the Jayhawks offensively in the third frame, as she was the only Kansas player with more than one kill in the set as the Jayhawks trailed 16-12.

Three Maverick errors in a row helped tie the game at 17, as Kansas climbed its way back from an early deficit in the set once again. The Jayhawks then got their first lead of the set in the middle of a five-point streak of Omaha errors.

Back-to-back gritty plays by Turner finally shifted the momentum in favor of the Jayhawks, even as the set went into a messy collection of extra points.

“I just play at ease and try to portray that I’m all cool and calm and collected just so it’s infectious to my teammates,” Turner said of her mindset in the moment.

Ultimately, Kansas bested the Mavericks in set three with a 28-26 victory, which will be crucial in saving energy for tomorrow’s second-round matchup against Penn State, which beat Yale just before KU’s match.

Offensive powerhouse Cooper led the Jayhawks with 11 kills on the night, while Elnady remained consistent with seven of her own. Turner led the team in her own trio of stats, combining for a double-double with 27 assists and 10 digs and tacking on three service aces for good measure.

“The roster size is a little bit bigger than usual. And that can tear a team up if people get dissatisfied, or it can really build strength and character,” Bechard said of Kansas’ consistent offensive balance. “And we’ve allowed it to really be a strength of our team.”

The Jayhawks will continue their playoff run tomorrow against the Nittany Lions at 5:30 p.m. in Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Omaha’s Shayla McCormick (11) gets her attack blocked by Kansas’ Camryn Turner (22) Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in the Horejsi Family Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Reagan Cooper attacks against Omaha Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Reagan Cooper (8) makes a pass against Omaha Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Katie Dalton (7) saves the ball against Omaha Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Reagan Cooper (8) and Toyosi Onabanjo (11) block an attack from Omaha’s Kali Jurgensmeier (3) Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Ayah Elnady (17) tips the ball over Omaha’s Kali Jurgensmeier (3) and McKenna Ruch (4) Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Caroline Bien (14) dives for the ball against Omaha Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Toyosi Onabanjo (11) serves to Omaha on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas Toyosi Onabanjo (11) screams with joy after a point against Omaha Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas middle blocker Toyosi Onabanjo (11) goes up for an attack against Omaha’s McKenna Ruch (4) and Shayla McCormick (11) during the match in Lawrence on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas’ Toyosi Onabanjo (11) ties her hair to start the game against Omaha at Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023 in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.