Lincoln, Neb. • Utah opened its NCAA Tournament match Friday with a bad set. It wasn't the night's only mistake, but it seemed like it. The Utes (20-12) hit .343 in a 25-16, 25-16 and 25-17 rout of Kansas State. Utah advances to Saturday's second round at the Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Freshman Adora Anae hit a season-best .556, adding 10 kills, nine digs and two aces.
"She didn't play like a freshman," Kansas State coach Suzie Fritz said. "She's grown up pretty quickly."
Anae appeared more nervous in the post-match press conference — leg bouncing, and delaying the questions while fussing with her ponytail. Senior teammate Chelsey Schofield-Olsen ribbed "Come on, Dora."
"I was, obviously, nervous, but I kicked it in when I needed to," Anae said.
Schofield-Olsen had 11 kills, and Shelby Dalton matched Anae with 10 kills and a .556 hitting percentage. Kansas State hit a season-worst .072.
"That's a pretty formidable block," Fritz said. "I felt like the entire match we were on the defensive."
No. 20 Utah darted to an 11-4 lead in the first set, using two of its 10 blocks. Kansas State called both of its timeouts to try, unsuccessfully, to stop the spree. Anae had five kills in the first set, and Dalton added four, including the set winner.
Kansas State, which closed the season losing six of its past eight, led 14-13 in the second set after consecutive aces from Natali Jones, but the lead was quickly erased. Utah, playing in its 12th NCAA Tournament, posted eight straight points. Anae's serve produced one ace and several soft returns during the decisive surge.
"We were targeting two players," Anae said. "That helped us get them out of system."
The Wildcats (22-9) tied a school record with eight come-from-behind victories this season, but never threatened to win a ninth. An 8-2 run gave Utah a 13-7 lead in the final set, and the Utes led by no less than four the rest of the way. Schofield-Olsen's solo block ended the match.
Utah has won eight of its past nine after falling to 12-11 Nov. 1. Schofield-Olsen said it feels like her team has been playing win-or-else volleyball for more than a month.
"We were in dire straits, no question about it," Utah coach Beth Launiere said. "We had, basically, one last shot."
The Utes can advance to their third regional semifinal with a win Saturday against host Nebraska (21-9). Schofield-Olsen said Friday felt like a home match "because of all the red," but that won't be the case Saturday. The No. 11 Huskers led the nation in attendance, averaging more than 8,200 fans. Nebraska advanced Friday with a sweep of Hofstra.
Utah's Makenzie Moae'i (9) gets a kill over Kansas State's Kylee Sumach (7) in the third set of the NCAA college volleyball championships sub-regional match in Lincoln Neb., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Mark Davis) MAGAZINES OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TELEVISION OUT
Utah's Chelsey Schofield-Olsen and Bailey Bateman (3) celebrate a kill over Kansas State's Kersten Kober (1) for match point at the NCAA college volleyball championships sub-regional match in Lincoln Neb., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/The World-Herald, Mark Davis) MAGAZINES OUT; ALL NEBRASKA LOCAL BROADCAST TELEVISION OUT