University of Louisville
Wichita State
Volleyball Shocked by Wichita in 3-2 Heartbreaker
October 15, 2013 | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 15, 2013
Senior middle blocker Brooke Mattingly had 15 kills, an ace and two blocks but it was not enough as the University of Louisville fell 3-2 to Wichita State Tuesday night in Wichita, Kan.
"Hats off to Wichita, they played really, really well after that first set," said U of L coach Anne Kordes. "What killed us was our hitting percentage, which started out at .400 in the first set, steadily fell and it made us more predictable and easier to defend. We have to be stronger at the service line and more aggressive on the pins. This environment was very much like a first round NCAA match and we still have work to do to be up for it."
The Cards, 10-7, hit .191 and were outblocked 16.5-9 in the 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 15-10 loss. Cardinal Janelle Jenkins had 11 with Emily Juhl adding 12 kills and six blocks. WSU improves to 17-4 and was led by Sam Sanders, who had 15 kills and eight blocks.
The Cards used .400 hitting in the first set and an 11-3 run to go up 21-13 and put the set out of reach for the Shockers, who fell 25-20. The Cards were led by Mattingly's four kills with Janelle Jenkins adding four.
In the second set was marked by 10 ties and five lead changes. WSU did not take its first lead until 21-20 and then capitalized on Cardinal service and hitting errors to win 25-22 to even the sets. U of L hitting cooled to .250 and WSU held offensive threat Maya McClendon to just two kills in two sets.
WSU hit .323 in the third set which helped when the Cards went on a 6-1 run to take an 11-10 lead. The Cards built the lead to 17-13 but WSU battled back to tie at 18 and then went on a 7-3 down the stretch for the 25-21 win. McClendon got on track with four kills in the set.
A 5-0 run gave WSU breathing room at 14-11 in fourth set. The Cardinals battled back with a 4-1 to tie at 15. The teams started trading points as part of 10 lead changes. Tied at 22, Brooke Mattingly and Randi Ewing each had a point and Emily Juhl had the set winner to force the fifth game.
WSU took a 4-0 lead in the fifth set and then moved to 7-2, forcing the Cards to burn both timeouts. U of L rallied and cut the lead to three at 13-10 but suffered seven blocks in the set to fall 15-10.
U of L returns to AAC action Friday when they travel to long time rival Cincinnati.
