Alumni and international students honored as KU volleyball sweeps through West Virginia | News, sports, jobs

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior Ayah Elnady charges against the West Virginia block on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

On a day of celebration when Kansas Volleyball retired the jersey of all-time points leader Josi Lima and honored Ayah Elnady and other international student athletes, it swept West Virginia (25-18, 25-13, 25-18). 11th conference was just the icing on the cake.

“It’s so cool to have all these guys back. We were trying to find our way here the first few years… and those guys really jump-started the program many years ago and they still have that lasting impact,” head coach Ray Bechard said. “To see them all lined up here with their families… it’s kind of a proud daddy moment.”

Elnady, originally from Cairo, Egypt, and the only international student on the current Jayhawk team, led the way in Saturday’s handy win over Kansas with 14 kills while increasing her offensive contributions in a quieter year for her up front.

“You always know in warmups when Ayah is going to get the spark, and you’re like, OK, it’s game time and she’s ready,” setter Camryn Turner said. “I just love her because she always brings so much fire and that spark to our team. I like playing with her.”

And on International Student Day it was the perfect time for Elnady to hit the road, because between the second and third sets she received a moment of recognition along with other international athletes.

‘She is so modest and never really demands anything. So I feel like it’s just a little bit of time to make her feel special,” Turner said. “And her sister is here today too, so it was a really good day for Ayah.”

The Jayhawks and Mountaineers started the first set trading points until a six-point Kansas run made it 10-4. The offense kept its foot on the gas pedal, hitting .343 with only two hitting errors, but West Virginia found success by using Kansas’ relentless block to make a pair of multi-point runs to bring things closer.

Kansas led 23-13 late before the Mountaineers went on a 4-1 run by getting a pair of deflections off the block to make it a six-point game and delay set point for the Jayhawks. Elnady’s fifth kill of the match gave Kansas a set point before her sixth kill of the set on a tip to the middle of the floor won set one for the Jayhawks, 25-18.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with Kansas taking a 5-1 lead before the Mountaineers made it 9-6. The Jayhawks regained control from there, going on a four-point run to take a 14-7 lead and never letting up. While the first set featured a pair of West Virginia scoring runs that kept things close, Kansas went on a 10-3 run to end the set emphatically with a 25-13 win.

Toyosi Onabanjo was Kansas’ mainstay at the net as Elnady cooled off a bit, but contributed some powerful kills at crucial moments. London Davis twisted her ankle early in the set and sophomore Ellie Schneider, a middle blocker, replaced her on the opposite side. Schneider scored three kills in the set, to loud cheers from her teammates as she provided key assistance up front.

“It’s so nice to have that support system and know that they’re going to cheer me on,” Schneider said. “I definitely had some nerves to shake off, but honestly, once I got some encouragement from my team, and just knowing that Coach B was going to call me, it was really comforting.”

The Mountaineers stepped up their offensive play in the third, forming an effective front against the Kansas block and hitting .250 in the set. This put them out to an early 12-10 lead before a five-point Jayhawk run woke up the offense and forced a timeout. Schneider and Elnady continued to lead the charge as they combined for eight kills in the set, including Kansas’ final four points of the match.

“We have such a competitive gym that just about anyone can play at any time. So just knowing that other people have had to do it, everyone is always there,” Schneider said. “And actually, I think our team that plays against (the starters) is just always ready because we play the No. 8 team in the country every day.”

Elnady’s team-leading 14th kill of the match closed out the match with a 25-18 win for a sweep of the Mountaineers. Elnady also led the way with 13 digs on a quiet day for the Jayhawk defense, while Turner dished out 37 assists as her team hit a combined .350.

“Fourteen murders and thirteen more digs – led us to digs. I never thought I would say that, ‘Ayah Elnady led us to digs,’ and I would tell her that,” Bechard said. “But she’s been working on that part of her game and I just think she wants this last stretch to be special and she’s always all in.”

The Jayhawks once again relied on someone to take on a role to keep the momentum going and carry them to victory, which has been a trend with Kansas’ younger players this year.

“They’re on call,” Bechard said. “There are times in practice when someone came in they couldn’t tell which side would be the A side and which side would be the B side, that’s how competitive it is. And that creates opportunities like today.”

Kansas’ next-player-up mentality is born from the perfect balance between seasoned veterans and a freshman class of six eager for guidance and experience. This combination has worked well in the Jayhawks’ first 21 games, and with a month left in the season they will see their biggest challenge with four of their next six games coming against ranked conference opponents. This stretch begins Wednesday when Kansas travels to Tempe, Arizona to take on No. 13 Arizona State.

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior Ayah Elnady spikes the ball against West Virginia’s Maddy McGath on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior Camryn Turner records an assist against West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena. Turner finished the game with 37 assists.

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior Toyosi Onabanjo shoots the ball over a pair of West Virginia defenders on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

From left to right, Kansas junior Rhian Swanson, sophomore Raegan Burns, senior Camryn Turner and senior Ayah Elnady celebrate after scoring a point against West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior Caroline Bien tries to make an upset against West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior Toyosi Onabanjo shoots the ball over a pair of West Virginia defenders on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

photo by: Landon Cory/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior London Davis tries to make an upset against West Virginia on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.