For the second time this season, #5 Texas (17-4) faced Kansas (15-8) but this round defeated the Jayhawks at home in four sets. Holding down second place in the Big 12 just behind Texas, Kansas pulled the upset over the Longhorns earlier this season in Lawrence making for a high stakes rematch as the season winds down and tournament speculation heightens.
Coach Jerritt Elliott stuck with Jhenna Gabriel (Honolulu, Hawaii) at setter and during her second start the freshman racked up 45 assists guiding the Longhorns overall hitting percentage to .363 for the match versus their last encounter with the Jayhawks where they were limited to .234 by the Conference’s lead blocking crew in Kansas. In the first set junior outside hitter Micaya White (Frisco) and freshman outside hitter Logan Eggleston (Brentwood, Tennessee) combined for 10 kills so it was appropriate for 2018 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year White’s kill to take the win (25-20).
The Jayhawks battled back in the second set, keeping it tight but then widened the gap over the Longhorns. It was senior outside hitter Yassmeen Bedart-Ghani (Los Angeles, California) who kept Texas close and at one point was hitting .600. Although her play aided Texas tying it up at 22, the top blocking Jayhawks won set point (25-23). During the third (25-18) and fourth (25-18) sets, Texas was back on their game leading throughout to close out the match for the Longhorns.
White led Texas with 11 digs tearing up the back-row on defense, a combined 18 kills from the middle sponsored by Brionne Butler and Morgan Johnson, a team high 13 kills from 2018 Preseason All-Big 12 selection Bedart-Ghani on the outside and team domination at the service line with seven aces.
The win against Kansas puts Texas on the cusp of clinching the Big 12 Conference title on the road against Baylor next Friday (6PM).
