WVU Takes KU in Four Sets

Friday, November 5

Morgantown, W.Va.

3 p.m.

West Virginia University

16-7,6-6Big 12

Kansas

12-11,4-8Big 12

Kansas

West Virginia

Photo by: Rylan Nemesh

November 05, 2021 06:46 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Lindsay Auld

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team beat Kansas on Friday afternoon in Morgantown, West Virginia, at the WVU Coliseum. The Mountaineers (16-7, 6-6 Big 12) took the match from the Jayhawks (12-11, 4-8 Big 12) in set scores of 27-29, 25-13, 25-20 and 25-15.

"Kansas is a really good team," said coach Reed Sunahara. "We are fortunate to get two wins from them, and I thought we played well today. We were pretty consistent, and I am happy about that. I am glad we got the win today."

West Virginia was led by three Mountaineers who recorded double-doubles in the match. Fifth-year outside hitter Adrian Ell recorded her eighth double-double of the season with a match-high 15 kills and 14 digs.

She was followed by senior outside hitter Natali Petrova who recorded 14 kills and 10 digs. That was Petrova's third double-double of the season and 10th in her career.

Senior setter Lacey Zerwas recorded her 31st career double-double and 11th this season after tallying 48 assists and 14 digs.

Additionally, three Mountaineers tallied double-digit scores, including sophomore outside hitter Skye Stokes, who recorded 17 digs, and fifth-year senior libero Alexa Hasting who added 16 digs on the night.

Fifth-year senior middle blocker Briana Lynch also recorded double-digits in kills with 13.

WVU finished the match, hitting .255 with 61 kills and nine team blocks.

The Jayhawks opened the match, but the Mountaineers responded with a kill. WVU took the lead after a 3-0 scoring run. Kansas responded with a run of its own and held the lead until the media timeout, 15-12. Following the timeout, the Mountaineers earned a successful challenge. West Virginia went on a 5-0 scoring run and took the lead, 21-19. KU tied the set 22-22, and WVU reached set point. After trading set point a few times, Kansas took set one, 29-27.

West Virginia dominated the second set. After a back and forth set early on, WVU went on a 20-6 scoring run and tallied six blocks. The squad went on to win set two, 25-13.

Kansas opened set three, 3-0. Following a few points from both teams, West Virginia recorded a 3-0 scoring run to bring the score to 6-5. The teams traded points. Set three saw 19 ties and 10 lead changes early on. The set went to a media timeout with WVU holding the lead, 15-13. The Mountaineers continued to hold the lead, and the match went to set point, 24-20. WVU went up 2-1 in the match and closed out set three, 25-20.

The Mountaineers opened set four with a 5-0 scoring run. WVU held the lead, but a 4-0 scoring run from KU brought the score to a one-point difference, 11-10. Following, an 11-2 scoring run from West Virginia extended the lead. Kansas could not catch up as the Mountaineers led 23-13. A kill from Lynch ended the set and match in West Virginia's favor, 25-15.

Looking ahead, West Virginia travels to Washington D.C. for a match against Howard University, at Burr Gymnasium, on Friday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. ET.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVU Volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.