LAWRENCE, Kan. - The Utah Valley University volleyball team dropped its 2014 season opener in straight sets to No. 22 Kansas Friday afternoon at the Kansas Invitational (25-11, 25-16, 25-18). The Wolverines will be back in action later this afternoon, as they'll face No. 23 Creighton at 4:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. CT at KU's Horejsi Family Athletics Center.

After dropping the opening set 25-11, UVU responded in the second game as it hung right with the nationally-ranked Jayhawks early in the frame. The set seesawed back and forth for the first few points and after KU took a 15-12 advantage, senior outside hitter Kalani Norris and freshman setter Sierra Starley converted back-to-back kills to pull the Wolverines to within one at 15-14. Kansas then responded, however, with a 10-2 run down the stretch to take a 2-0 set advantage in the contest.

The score remained tight once again the third set and this time is was sophomore outside hitter Macky Treanor that got hot and pounded home consecutive kills to tie the score at 12-all. Following back-to-back kills from sophomores Kiahna Steiner and Nakisha Willden the Wolverines' later tied the frame at 14-14. UVU then again evened the score, this time at 16-all, on an ace from the program's all-time service ace leader McKenna Tait.

The Jayhawks then reeled off another big late run, this time 9-2, to finish off the set and the match. The victory marked Kansas' 700th win in program history.

Sara McClinton paced the Jayhawks with nine kills while Chelsea Albers and Tayler Soucie each chipped in eight.

Norris and Treanor led the Wolverines in the contest with eight kills apiece.

The Wolverines will conclude the Kansas Invitational on Saturday morning as they'll take on Lipscomb at 10:30 a.m. MT/11:30 a.m. CT. Following this weekend's opening-season tournament, UVU will head to Evanston, Wyoming, to face the University of Wyoming on Monday at 4 p.m. at Evanston High School.