Kansas City volleyball lost to Oral Roberts University this past Saturday in a disappointing 3-1 match. However, the Roos managed to finish with more kills, aces, assists and digs than Oral Roberts.
Maddie Renn led the team in digs, and Melanie Brecka reached a season-high of 25 kills (one away from her career-high), but it wasn’t enough to defeat the Golden Eagles.
Set One
Kansas City’s first three points of the set were kills from senior Melanie Brecka. Shortly after, a ball-handling error by Oral Roberts sophomore Bryanne Soares helped the Roos take a 5-3 lead.
The Roos had the next serve but made the same mistake, as a ball-handling error by Kansas City graduate student Alli Schomers gave Oral Roberts a point.
After some back and forth, a kill by Oral Roberts senior Aixa Vigil tied the set 8-8.
A bad set by Oral Roberts gave the Roos a fighting chance, but service errors by Kansas City and a kill by Oral Roberts sophomore Kaia Dunford ended the set.
The Roos lost set one 25-21.
Set Two
The Roos had the first serve of set two, but a kill by Oral Roberts put the Golden Eagles on the board. Shortly after, two straight kills from Brecka put the Roos in the lead 3-2.
Kansas City battled onward, going on to capitalize on five consecutive serves to gain a 12-9 lead.
An attack error by Kansas City graduate student Schomers gave the Golden Eagles a point, but the Roos still had a four-point lead.
The Golden Eagles managed to catch up with the Roos, and things became tense after a kill by Kansas City’s Brecka tied the set 23-23.
The Roos fought hard, but a kill by Oral Roberts freshman Trinity Freeman ended the set.
Kansas City lost set two 25-23.
Set Three
Kansas City came out with a different mindset in set three, starting with a strong kill.
Several Roo kills later, Kansas City showed the Golden Eagles this mindset with a 10-3 lead.
A service error by Oral Roberts junior Jeslyn Spencer extended Kansas City’s promising lead 13-6. An attack error by Kansas City would give the Golden Eagles a point, but the Roos had already built an eight-point lead.
The Roos had the next seven serves and dominated with a 24-9 lead.
The Golden Eagles managed to put up three more points, but a service error by Oral Roberts gave the Roos set three.
Kansas City crushed set three and won 25-12.
Set Four
Set four began with a Roo serve and a kill. Another kill by Kansas City gave the Roos an early lead.
The Golden Eagles had the same plan as a kill was sent over by Oral Roberts sophomore Jaxie Wakley, which tied the set 5-5.
Three costly attack errors in a row by Kansas City’s Thompson put the Roos down by two.
The Roos managed to keep the gap close, and after a bad set by Oral Roberts sophomore Chloe Salcedo, the Roos were still down 20-18.
Kansas City had a service ace, winning a point to close the 21-20 deficit and earning the ball back.
A Roo serve was sent over by Schomers, but a kill by Oral Roberts junior Sakira Lacour gave the Golden Eagles the final three serves.
Oral Roberts would end out the set on a 4-0 run.
The Roos lost set four 25-20 and lost the match 3-1.
Next Up
Kansas City volleyball will return home to take on the St. Thomas Tommies and the Western Illinois Leathernecks tomorrow and Saturday, Nov. 12, respectively.
