WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The No. 4-ranked Kansas Jayhawks topped Southeastern Louisiana in straight sets, 25-15, 25-17, 25-12, Saturday at the Stacey Clark Classic.
Southeastern (1-11) kept the score close early in each set, but Kansas (11-1), a Final Four squad last season, widened the gap after the tight starts. The Jayhawks rebounded after dropping their first match of the season Friday, falling in four sets to host and No. 14-ranked Purdue. The Lady Lions have dropped 11 straight since winning their season opener.
Landry Bullock, a senior from Spring, Texas, and
Elyssa Purcell, a redshirt freshman from Alvin, Texas, led Southeastern with four kills apiece, while Purcell and
Haley Baker, a sophomore from Elkton, Maryland, both handed out six assists to direct the Lady Lion offensive attack.
Baker led Southeastern with nine digs, while Purcell and
Madi Odom, a senior from Kingwood, Texas, each contributed seven digs.
Chloee Holden, a freshman from Alvin, had a hand in half of the Lady Lions' six team blocks.
Jada Burse and Madison Rigdon led all players with nine kills, while Kelsie Payne and Tayler Soucie each added eight for the Jayhawks. Ainise Havili dished out a match-high 31 assists.
Cassie Wait recorded 17 digs and Soucie had a hand in half of Kansas' eight team blocks.
Southeastern finally returns to the University Center, opening Southland Conference play Sept. 22 against Lamar with the annual Dig the Lions match. The first 200 Southeastern students in attendance will receive a Dig the Lions t-shirt and free food courtesy Southeastern Athletics Marketing and Promotions.
Admission, as it will be for all home volleyball matches this season, is free. Volleyball posters and magnet schedules will be available in the Fan Zone and students can earn points toward their LionUp Loyalty account by checking in on the app while in attendance.
More information on promotions and the LionUp Loyalty app is available in the Gameday section at www.LionSpots.net.
Kansas def. Southeastern La. 25-15, 25-17, 25-12
Kansas (11-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Burse, Jada 9-0-2; Rigdon, Madison 9-2-2; Payne, Kelsie 8-0-2; Soucie, Tayler 8-0-4; Havili, Ainise 3-1-2; Hill, Zoe 3-0-2; Smith, Ashley 1-0-0; Barry, Addison 0-1-0; Cheadle, Kayla 0-0-2; Nelson, Allie 0-3-0;
Totals 41-7-8.0. (Assists) - Havili, Ainise 31.
(Dig leaders) - Wait, Cassie 17; Havili, Ainise 5
Southeastern La. (1-11) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Bullock, Landry 4-0-2; Purcell, Elyssa 4-1-1; Holden, Chloee 3-0-3; Alcazar, Savannah 3-0-2; Odom, Madi 2-0-0; Edo, Jodi 1-0-0; Bunn, Rachael 1-0-3; Baker, Haley 0-1-0;
Totals 18-2-6.0. (Assists) – Baker, Haley 6; Purcell, Elyssa 6.
(Dig leaders) - Baker, Haley 9; Odom, Madi 7
Site: West Lafayette, Ind. (Holloway Gymnasium)
Date: Sep 17, 2016
Time: 1:18
Referees: Donald Goodwin, Sergio Gonzalez
STACEY CLARK CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Chloee Holden (SLU)
Ainise Havili (Kansas)
Madison Rigdon (Kansas)
Sofia Peterson (Xavier)
Natalie Haben (Purdue)
Faye Adelaja (Purdue)
MVP – Brooke Peters (Purdue)
