Jensen, Hejjas lead 'Cats to 3-2 win over Texas
Oct 15, 2003 | General
Manhattan - Senior Cari Jensen and junior Valeria Hejjas each amassed 22 kills as eighth-ranked Kansas State won its third straight five-game match with a 19-30, 30-24, 20-30, 30-25, 16-14, win over Texas Wednesday night before a season-high 1,733 fans at Ahearn Field House.
With the win, the Wildcats improved to 17-3 overall and 7-1 in Big 12 play while the Longhorns fell to 9-8 and 4-4. After playing the first 17 matches of the season without going to five games, Kansas State has gone the distance in each of its last three matches, winning all three. The Cats have won five matches in a row and 17 of their last 18 with the win on Wednesday, while improving to a perfect 8-0 at home.
'We knew coming in that Texas was a very physical and big team,' head coach Suzie Fritz said. 'I thought we came out a little timid in the beginning, but when we had to, our girls answered and did what they needed to do to win the match. Our crowd was amazing and they were a big reason for us winning the match.'
Hejjas' 22 kills were a career high and the junior also hit a team-best .327 from the floor on 49 attacks, while Jensen's 22 kills were a season-best total. Jensen also collected 10 digs on the night for her fourth double-double of the season. Laura Downey-Wallace, the Big 12 leader in digs, collected 20 digs on the night, while Lisa Martin picked up six blocks. Setter Gabby Guerre collected her fourth double-double of the season after dishing out 53 assists and digging out 12 balls.
After a slow start in game one, where the Cats were held to a .152 hitting percentage and dropped the game, 30-19, Kansas State rebounded with a strong game two, turning the tables on Texas for a 30-24 win. Both teams traded points early and a Hejjas-led offense made a strong push at the end of the game to tie the match at one with a 30-24 win. Hejjas totalled 12 kills after game two while the Wildcats out-hit Texas, .343 to .119 in the win.
Texas used a strong serving attack and .345 hitting percentage to take game three, 30-20. The Wildcats just could not muster enough offense to take the lead in the match as the Longhorns held K-State to a match-low .029 hitting percentage in the game. The Longhorns collected 11 service aces on the night.
Down 2-1, the senior leadership and experience of the Wildcats prevailed as K-State took game four, 30-25, to send the match to a decisive fifth game. Jensen and Hejjas made their marks in game four as each collected seven kills to lead the Cats to the win, while Lauren Goehring, Martin and Katie Stanzel each had two blocks in the game-four victory.
In game five, Jensen again led the way as the senior picked up four kills and four digs in the game-five win. The Wildcats and Horns each hit under .200 for the game and Texas committed five attacking errors as the Wildcats prevailed, 16-14, for its third straight five-game win.
The Kansas State/Texas match will air on national television this Sunday on College Sports Television at 5 p.m. CT as part of the network's Sunday Night Spikes broadcasts. CSTV is available on DirectTV's channel 610.
Eighth-ranked Kansas State hosts Colorado Saturday at Ahearn Field House. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
Texas (9-8, 4-4) 30 24 30 25 14
#8 Kansas State (17-3, 7-1) 19 30 20 30 16
KSU
