Volleyball Set For Purple and White Scrimmage
Aug 15, 2003 | General
MANHATTAN, Kan. - The 15th-ranked Kansas State volleyball team will hold its annual Purple and White Match at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ahearn Field House. The intrasquad scrimmage concludes preseason drills for the Wildcats, who open their 2003 season Aug. 22-23 at the NACWAA State Farm Women's Classic in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
'We are looking forward to getting the season underway,' head coach Suzie Fritz said. 'Our girls have worked extremely hard this preseason and Saturday will be the first opportunity for our fans to see them. We have a tough opening stretch of the season, so every workout and every scrimmage is key for us.'
Prior to the Purple and White scrimmage at 7 p.m., the volleyball team will go through media day activities at 4 p.m., followed by an Alumni match at 5 p.m., featuring former Wildcat volleyball players.
The matches are open to the public and free of charge.
The 2003 Wildcats return six starters from last season's 21-9 squad, including three first team all-conference selections and the Big 12 Libero of the Year. Senior Laura Downey-Wallace returns after being named the inaugural Libero of the Year in 2002 and Honorable Mention All-Big 12 after averaging 5.47 digs per game.
Senior MB Lauren Goehring was named the 2003 Big 12 Preseason Co-Player of the Year after averaging 3.59 kills per game with a .370 hitting percentage. Goehring also averaged 1.03 blocks per game en route to earning first team all-conference honors in 2002.
Junior setter Gabby Guerre and senior outside hitter Cari Jensen also return after earning First Team All-Big 12 honors a year ago. Guerre averaged 11.75 assists and 2.39 digs per game while Jensen pounded out 3.57 kills per game last season. Senior defensive specialist Kris Jensen and junior middle blocker Lisa Martin round out the returning starters for K-State in 2003.
Kansas State is coming off its fourth consecutive season of at least 20 wins in 2002, in which the Wildcats posted a 21-9 overall record and a 16-4 mark in Big 12 Conference play, en route to its seventh straight NCAA Tournament. K-State hosted first and second-round action of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, as the Wildcats defeated Michigan, 3-0, in the first round before losing a hard-fought 3-1 decision to eventual Elite Eight participant Washington State in the second round. KSU finished the season with its fifth consecutive final ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/USA Today Top 25, as the Wildcats earned a No. 21 ranking.
