photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas junior Toyosi Onabanjo (11) is jubilant during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

In Kansas’ second top-25 matchup in three days, the Jayhawks were able to show their prowess and topple No. 19 Marquette Saturday at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena after a heartbreaking loss against No. 25 Purdue on Thursday night.

After dropping the first set, Kansas was able to win set two before dominating in the last two games and earning its first home win of the season, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-19).

Caroline Bien remained a force in the back row the entire game, adjusting to her revamped role in the new season. She led the Jayhawks with 12 digs, while Camryn Turner matched this mark and led the match with 41 assists, and Toyosi Onabanjo tallied six blocks to lead both squads.

Two early kills by Reagan Cooper and a powerful block by Turner and Onabanjo got the Jayhawks to an early 4-0 lead. A few attack errors and a big solo block by Marquette’s Aubrey Hamilton took the Golden Eagles on a four-point scoring run to tie the game 5-5. Service and attack errors kept the game tight, as Marquette remained one back halfway through the first set.

At the media timeout, Kansas held onto a 15-13 lead after Cooper’s fourth kill of the match. The Golden Eagles got out to a 20-17 lead, and Kansas was forced to take its first timeout of the game. The timeout was of no use though, as Marquette quickly reached its first match point, and the Jayhawks dropped the first set 25-21.

The Jayhawks came out swinging in the second set, getting out to a 5-0 lead with two kills from London Davis and a powerful block by Onabanjo. Ayah Elnady stepped up to the net and recorded her first block of the match right — 13-5 — and the Golden Eagles called a timeout. Marquette then rattled off six straight points to get back into the game and force a Kansas timeout.

The game remained tight, as Kansas held onto a late 20-17 lead. After the Golden Eagles got a bit closer, the Jayhawks took another timeout in an effort to regroup and secure a win. They were able to do just this, winning 25-20 on Elnady’s fifth kill of the match.

Tied at a set apiece, the Jayhawks led Marquette in hitting percentage but trailed in kills, blocks and digs.

Back-to-back kills by powerful Mykayla Myers began set three, and Elnady followed with an attack of her own to secure a 3-0 lead. The Jayhawks continued to pour it on with two kills by Davis and a service ace by Raegan Burns to make it 8-1. Elnady’s fourth kill of the set got Marquette to take its second timeout of the third as the lead grew to 10-2. Marquette fought back from this point, getting within five before Cooper rattled off three kills in a row to make the lead 19-8. Kansas won set three 25-14 on a service error to claim its second set of the match.

A back-and-forth start to the fourth led to a 7-7 tie early on as Kansas fought to secure its first home win. The game went to media timeout with Kansas leading 15-14, and three Jayhawks (Cooper, Davis and Elnady) having 12 kills. An ace by Bryn McGehe grew Kansas’ lead to three, as Marquette called its own timeout down 19-16. An impressive battle at the net showcased three Kansas deflections in a single point before a block by Davis made it 21-18.

After gaining a 23-19 lead on back-to-back Davis kills, Marquette took another timeout. An illegal back-row attack got the Jayhawks to game point before a massive block by Davis and Onabanjo earned Kansas its first ranked and first home win of the year.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas graduate Mykayla Myers is jubilant during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas junior Ayah Elnady is jubilant during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas junior Camryn Turner is jubilant during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas junior Camryn Turner serves the ball during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas junior Brynn Kirsch bumps the ball during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas celebrates during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas freshman Raegan Burns bumps the ball against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas graduate Reagan Cooper kills the ball during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Kansas graduate Reagan Cooper celebrates with her team during the match against Marquette on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023.