Kansas City
3-1,3-1Summit League
Omaha
3-3,2-2Summit League
Ratzlaff's Career Night Leads Roos in Five-Set Win
2/8/2021 9:53:00 PM | Volleyball
Alex Ratzlaff placed 10 kills on the night, adding career-highs with 27 digs and seven aces
OMAHA, Neb. - For the second night in a row, Kansas City (3-1, 3-1) and Omaha (3-3, 2-2) took a match to the full five sets. Tonight, the end result went Kansas City's way, with the Roos taking a 3-2 (25-14, 23-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-13) win.
"After the disappointing loss yesterday, it was an important win," Head Coach Christi Posey said. "The team responded well to the challenge of bouncing back and correcting some errors. Everyone made adjustments and executed our game plan."
The first set was what KC needed after a disappointing loss last night, as the Roos dominated from the start. Alex Ratzlaff sparked the offense, sending across four-straight service aces at one point in the set. Ratzlaff had a career night, finishing with 10 kills and adding career-highs in digs (27) and aces (7).
"We were able to serve tough and defend well," Posey said. "Alex had one of her most complete matches as a Roo."
As she has in every match so far this season, Melanie Brecka headed up the Roos' attack. She finished with 17 kills, extending her streak of double-digit kills to eight-straight matches reaching into the 2019 season. Brecka shot an efficient .227 hitting percentage, adding two aces and a block assist to finish with a game-high 19.5 points.
"Mel bounced back well after a tough day yesterday," Posey said.
After splitting the first four sets, the match went to a deciding fifth. Errors gave Omaha an early advantage, but the Roos came roaring back to take an 8-5 lead on back-to-back kills by Ratzlaff. A few points later, Odyssey Warren got in on the action, throwing down two kills in three points to bring the Roos' advantage to 13-8. The Mavericks tried to mount a comeback, but it was too little, too late and Kansas City brought home the victory.
Warren finished with 10 kills, her third match in a row in double digits. De'Janae Arnold had a season-high 11 kills on a highly-efficient .417 hitting. Alli Schomers finished with 43 assists for the second game in a row, and Maddie Renn added 25 digs.
"Maddie was solid in serve recieve and anchoring our defense," Posey said. "De'ja got rolling offensively and Alli provided great composure and leadership in the win. It was a hard-fought, gritty win that moves us closer to our goals."
The Roos are back in the Swinney Center next week for a pair of matches against Western Illinois on Feb. 14 and 15 at 4 p.m. The games will be streamed live on the Roo Sports Network.
