Kansas City
6-1,6-1Summit League
South Dakota State University
2-6,2-5Summit League
Kansas City Uses Efficient Attack to Defeat Jackrabbits
2/21/2021 6:51:00 PM | Volleyball
Melanie Brecka led the Roos with 20 kills and 12 digs, and Alex Ratzlaff added her fourth double-double of the year in the win
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Melanie Brecka threw home 20 kills with a .341 hitting percentage, and Kansas City (6-1, 6-1) shook off a slow third set to defeat South Dakota State (2-6, 2-5), 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 21-25, 25-22).
"It's a bit frustrating that we can be really good in the first two sets and then not very good in the last two," Head Coach Christi Posey said. "We've got to not make so many unforced errors and be better."
Service errors plagued the Roos from the beginning of the match, but they were able to make up for it in the attack. In the first two sets, the Roos hit .324 as a team, led by De'Janae Arnold. Arnold connected for kills on her first six attacks of the day, finishing with 11 kills and a .458 hitting percentage, adding six block assists.
"(Arnold) continues to evolve," Posey said. "She's getting better and better offensively."
Kansas City looked to Brecka consistently throughout the match, as she led the Roos in kills for the seventh-straight outing. She was also involved in the defense, adding 12 digs for her second double-double of the year.
"It's not a secret, Melanie is a big part of what we're doing," Posey said.
Alex Ratzlaff contributed a double-double of her own with 12 kills and a team-leading 13 digs. The match marked her fourth double-double of the year.
After the Jackrabbits stole the third set, Kansas City fell behind early in the fourth. Maddie Renn stepped up to the service line with the Roos trailing, 10-11, and strung together a run of four-straight points to give the Roos the lead for good. Renn finished with 11 digs and, for the second match in a row, two service aces.
The Roos and Jackrabbits are back in action tomorrow at 4 p.m., to be streamed on the Roo Sports Network.
