No. 5 Wildcats Sweep No. 24 Aggies to Clinch Title Outright on Senior Night
Nov 26, 2003 | General
Manhattan- Fifth-ranked Kansas State sent the 2003 senior class out in style as the Wildcats swept No. 24 Texas A&M, 30-22, 30-23, 30-19, to claim outright the 2003 Big 12 title Wednesday before 1,683 at Ahearn Field House.
The Wildcats improved to 28-3 overall and 18-1 in conference play and ended the 2003 home schedule a perfect 14-0 for the first time in school history. Kansas State has won a school-record 16 straight matches and 28 of its last 29. The 28 wins are the most by a Kansas State volleyball team since the start of NCAA play in 1982.
“This is an unbelievable feeling,” head coach Suzie Fritz said. “It was great for us to clinch the Big 12 title outright on Senior Night. Those four seniors are the reason for our success this season and they are exactly what coaches look for in a student-athlete. All four are tremendous athletes, wonderful students and even better individuals. I am very proud of them.”
The contest was the final regular season home match for seniors Lauren Goehring, Laura Downey-Wallace and Kris and Cari Jensen. Goehring totalled five kills and four blocks on .556 hitting, Cari Jensen collected eight kills and six digs, Downey-Wallace collected 22 digs and Kris Jensen five digs in their final regular season home match.
Valeria Hejjas led the Wildcats with 12 kills, five digs, three blocks and three service aces, while Gabby Guerre turned in another nice performance with seven kills, 33 assists and four blocks. Lisa Martin had seven kills and five blocks.
Kansas State opened the match with a 30-22 win in which the Wildcats out-hit Texas A&M, .364 to .119. In game two, both defenses picked up as the Wildcats out-hit the Aggies, .128 to .049. In the final game, K-State hit a match-high .457 to take the match, 30-19. The Wildcats hit .308 for the match while holding Texas A&M to a .154 mark.
The Wildcats close out the regular season Saturday at Texas. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Austin, Texas.
“We still have a lot to play for,” Fritz said. “We can improve our standing on the national scene in terms of seeding, so I do not think our kids will come out sluggish.”
#24 Texas A&M (20-9, 12-7) 22 23 19
#5 Kansas State (28-3, 18-1) 30 30 30
KSU
