KU volleyball team upset by Florida Gators in 5-set NCAA Tournament thriller

One of the winningest seasons in Kansas volleyball history ended Saturday night in the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32.

The No. 6 seed and 22nd-ranked Florida Gators defeated No. 3 seed, 12th-ranked Kansas, 3-2, in a thrilling 2 hour, 35 minute second-round marathon match on Saturday night in Horejsi Family Athletic Center.

The victory (by a score of 25-22, 21-25, 25-17, 24-26, 15-13) prevented KU (25-5) from reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2021.

Kennedy Martin, a 6-foot-6 Gator sophomore, blasted a school-record 33 kills, while Isabel Martin added 18 kills and Jaela Auguste 15 for the Gators, who improved to 23-7 heading into the Sweet 16.

Ayah Elnadi had 18 kills, Caroline Bien 15, Toyosi Onabanjo 10 and London Davis nine for the Jayhawks, whose 25 wins are most since KU won 27 matches in 2016.

The 25 wins tie for fourth highest total in KU volleyball history. KU won 30 in 2015, 27 in 2016, 26 in 2012 and 25 in 2013.

Camryn Turner had 42 assists and 14 digs for the Jayhawks, who swept Colgate 3-0 in Friday’s first round. KU fell in the second round at home for a second consecutive season. KU defeated Omaha 3-0 then lost to Penn State in five sets a year ago at Horejsi.

KU coach Ray Bechard commented about Saturday’s thriller witnessed by 1,806 fans: “If you appreciate competition, young women playing as hard as they possibly can, you certainly had appreciation for what happened tonight. How long did it last, 2 hours, 35 (minutes), no break, no moment to collect your thoughts, (you) just had to go play.

“There are some levels of disappointment (losing) 15-13 (in final set). We had a couple controllables we didn’t take care of there. But these ladies … we’ll forever be grateful for that group of seniors and what they did here.”

Bien, a senior out of Saint Thomas Aquinas, said she “hadn’t fully processed it yet. I didn’t think it’d end that way, (but) there’s nothing to hang our heads about. I’m proud of everything we’ve done and proud of what we did tonight.”

The match thrilled a sellout crowd that is for sure.

“How about that Horejsi fan base, holy cow,” Bechard said. “They provided a lot of joy for us. I know the team provided joy for them. It’s how NCAA Tournament volleyball should be. I just wish it was later in the tournament.”