Kansas City Volleyball Battles Through Tough Season Opener

Friday, August 30

Orem, UT

11:00 AM

Kansas City

0-1,0-0Summit League

CSU Bakersfield

1-0,0-0Big West

CSU Bakersfield

Kansas City

Kansas City Volleyball Battles Through Tough Season Opener

8/30/2024 11:37:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Roos Drop Close Matches to CSU Bakersfield and Utah Valley as They Look Ahead to Final Match in Orem

Orem, UTAH -The Kansas City Roos volleyball team faced a challenging start to the 2024 season, falling in back-to-back matches against CSU Bakersfield and Utah Valley. Despite strong individual performances and moments of promise, the Roos were unable to secure a win in either contest. With narrow margins defining each set, Kansas City will look to regroup and finish strong as they prepare for their final match in Orem against Eastern Washington.

SET-BY-SET VS. CSU Bakersfield

SET ONE / 20-25: The Road Runners jumped out to a 3-0 start early on. Nyles Mathis cut the Runners' momentum, delivering the Roos' first point of the match at 3-1. The Roos climbed the points ladder in the set but couldn't piece together a comeback after Bakersfield held KC at 10-17. A kill by Sila Ozyurek and an ace by Kaia Dunford weren't enough to provide the push needed. Set one goes to the Runners, 20-25.

SET TWO / 14-25: KC secured the first two points, hoping to propel themselves into a set win, but the Roos and Runners traded points to 4-4 after a series of kills from each side. Ledisi Kpea set herself up perfectly to tower over the net, placing the ball into an empty pocket in the backcourt at 9-6. The Runners gained speed, picking up a pair of aces to run away with the set at 16-9.

SET THREE / 21-25: KC and Bakersfield traded points throughout the entire set, as this set win would make the difference in the match for either side. Kimora Whetstone and Ledisi Kpea each secured a kill, hopeful to gain control at 12-11. The Runners sealed the Roos' fate with two aces and a kill, resulting in a fall for the Roos, 21-25.

SET-BY-SET VS. Utah Valley University

SET ONE / 20-25:Mathis opened the match with a kill, putting the Roos ahead 1-0. Ozyurek, set up by Henry, extended the lead to 3-2. KC and Utah Valley traded points until the Wolverines went on a four-point run, making it 8-19. The Roos began a comeback with a kill from Henry, followed by an ace from Brooke Boyer and a kill by Kpea, closing the gap to 16-21. Despite the late surge, the Roos couldn't overcome the deficit, and the Wolverines took the set 20-25.

SET TWO / 20-25: The second set was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging points. The Roos attempted to pull ahead with a 3-0 run, bringing the score to 18-20, including a kill by Ozyurek that forced a Wolverines timeout. UVU used the timeout to regroup and capitalize on a series of KC errors, allowing Utah Valley to secure the set win 20-25.

SET THREE / 23-25: Utah Valley jumped out to an early 0-2 lead with an ace and a block, but Ozyurek ended their three-point streak with a kill, followed by a solo block, tying the score at 2-2. The set remained tight, with ties at 13-13 and later at 22-23, thanks to a late kill by Dunford. However, Utah Valley delivered an ace to clinch the set and the match, winning 23-25.

STATS TO NOTE

Dunford led the team with 10 kills on 26 attempts, hitting an impressive .308, and contributing 10.5 points overall.
Henry was pivotal in the playmaking role, dishing out 28 assists while also chipping in with 2 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, showcasing her versatility.
Green was a standout in the back row, leading the team with 11 digs, playing a key role in keeping the ball alive during tough rallies.
Kpea and Ozyurek were both efficient attackers, combining for 16 kills. Ozyurek's .636 hitting percentage on 11 attempts was particularly notable for its efficiency.

UP NEXT
The Roos have one more match in Orem, UT taking on Eastern Washington tomorrow at 11 a.m.CT