November 20, 2004
No. 13 Texas A&M ran into a determined Kansas team and fell to the Jayhawks, 30-28, 32-30, 31-29, in front of a boisterous crowd of 1,020 at the Horejsi Family Athletics Center.
"We ran into a more determined team tonight," A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. "While we went through the motions and didn't execute even the things we do best, Kansas was so hot that they didn't miss."
It was a tightly contested match as neither team took more than a four-point lead throughout the contest. Each game was determined by the minimum two points, and both teams had game-winning scoring opportunities in each of the final two games.
The teams recorded 60 kills apiece, but the Jayhawks outhit A&M, .348 to .249, and outblocked the Aggies, 8-4, to improve to 16-11 overall and 7-11 in the Big 12. A&M, which was making its final road trip of the regular season, falls to 17-7, 13-5.
There were 10 lead changes in the opening game, and neither team mustered more than a two-point lead until the Jayhawks scored three unanswered points to take a 28-24 advantage. Kansas was serving for the game at 29-25 when A&M's Melissa Munsch put down a kill and teamed with Kari Kelley for a block. Laura Jones then put down an errant pass by the Jayhawks for her sixth kill and put the Aggies within a point. Paula Caten answered with her fifth kill of the game to give Kansas the win.
A&M held a 16-13 lead in the second game when the Jayhawks went on a 7-0 scoring run. Five of the points were the result of A&M ball handling or attack errors. Kansas held a 23-19 lead when the Aggies went on a run of their own, scoring five straight points to regain the lead. A service error - the first of three during the final stretch of the game - ended the run.
A&M took a 28-26 lead following a Cristin Burton kill, but a Kansas kill and ace tied the score. Burton put the Aggies serving for game point with a kill, but Jana Correa evened the score with a kill. Munsch tipped the ball over for a kill, but the Jayhawks got another kill from Caten and then posted consecutive blocks to take a two-game lead.
A&M overcame an early four-point deficit in Game 3 and took the lead at 17-16 following an ace by Kendra Felder. The teams traded points, and with the score tied at 19, A&M scored three straight points to equal its biggest lead of the match. Kansas fought back and tied the score at 23. The teams traded point for point until the Jayhawks got a solo block and a kill to take a 27-26 lead.
A&M setter Meghan Kainz tied the score with one of her career-high four kills, and Lindsay Frantz followed with an ace to give the Aggies their third lead of the game. Kansas' Josi Lima tied the score for the 13th time with one of her team-high 16 kills. The Aggies then appeared to score when Kainz put down a kill on the second touch, but the play was whistled dead and Kansas was awarded the go-ahead point, because A&M libero Holly Clay had set the ball in front of the 10-foot line. Munsch followed with a kill, but Catan answered with consecutive kills to give Kansas the upset victory.
Jones led the Aggies with 17 kills and Felder added a season-high 15 kills while hitting at a .519 clip. Munsch also reached double figures with 12 kills. Carrie Moreira led the team in digs with 13. Kari Kelley had 32 assists, and Kainz finished with a career-high 18 assists.
Although the teams split the season series - A&M won, 3-1, in College Station -- it marks the second consecutive year the favored Aggies fell to the Jayhawks in three games in Lawrence and only the second victory Kansas has ever recorded against A&M in 19 meetings overall.
"Kansas deserved to win and they played great," Corbelli said. "We can't dwell on this loss as hard as it is to swallow. We have to use this as a turning point and get back and focus on what is ahead and make the necessary changes."
The Aggies conclude the regular season with two crucial home matches next week. A&M hosts 20th-ranked and defending conference-champion Kansas State Wednesday at G. Rollin White and wraps up the schedule by hosting league-leader and third-ranked Nebraska on Saturday. Both matches begin at 7 p.m.
State Farm Player of the Match: Kendra Felder