LAWRENCE, Kan. - Appalachian State University volleyball battled tough competition and untimely injuries on Friday to finish the day 0-2 at the Kansas Jayhawk Invitational. The Mountaineers (3-3) fell 3-1 against South Dakota State and were swept by undefeated Kansas.
Match 1
Meghann Forshey led the Mountaineers with 15 kills and a .323 hitting percentage to accompany a block and a dig. Maggie Seeds added 13 kills, six of ASU's 12 blocks and five digs in the effort.
The Apps took the first set by a slim 25-22 margin before injuries ended Jessica Eley and Kelly Rhein's days. SDSU (4-1) then won the next three sets by slim margins to take the match at 25-23, 25-20 and 25-23.
ASU won several statistical categories in the match, including hitting percentage (.195-.139), blocks (12-8), kills (55-45) and digs (71-63). SDSU converted 11 aces with just three service errors, compared to Appalachian's four aces and 10 errors in the match.
Anna Wagner tallied a double-double with 16 digs and 10 kills to pair up with her five blocks.
In the first significant action of her career, redshirt freshman Lindsey Sauls also posted a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs.
Match 2
In the nightcap, the Jayhawks (5-0) raced out to an 8-3 lead in the first set and fended off a late ASU rally to take a 25-18 win. The momentum and 1,000-fan crowd carried KU to an 11-3 spurt in the second set that broke up a close score and gave the home team a 25-14 win and 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set was a different story, as the Apps forced 11 ties and four lead changes in the finale. ASU led as late as 17-16 on a Forshey kill, and rallied to tie at 19-19 behind freshman Lauren Gray's solid serving, before finally succumbing to the Jayhawks.
Forshey ranked second on the team with nine kills, while Gray was active on three of ASU's six blocks in the match.
Wagner again posted double-figure kills, securing 10 of ASU's 31 successful attacks on the night. The senior added eight digs, two blocks and an assist in the match.
Seeds and L. Sauls each tallied four kills in the match to tie for third on the team. However, both players were held to negative hitting percentages by KU's large front line.
Courtney Rhein dug 14 balls on the night while Lauren Brown notched 12 of ASU's 28 assists in the match.
ASU hit .105 on the night, compared to .317 for Kansas. The Apps blocked six attempts, compared to five for KU.
Appalachian closes out the tournament on Saturday against Belmont at 11:30 a.m. Both Eley and K. Rhein are questionable for the match following Friday morning's injuries.
