Kansas State University Athletics
Saturday, October 7
Manhattan, Kan.
1 p.m.
Kansas State University
9-9, 2-3Big 12
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Texas Tech
12-6, 1-4Big 12
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F
Texas Tech
15
25
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18
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K-State
25
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15
3
Defense Sparks K-State’s Five-Set Comeback Win Over TTU
Oct 07, 2017 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Three players in double-figure kills and a season-high 18 team blocks helped K-State come back from 2-1 deficit and defeat Texas Tech in five sets (25-15, 23-25, 17-25, 25-18, 15-11) Saturday afternoon at Ahearn Field House.
Senior opposite Bryna Vogel led K-State (9-9, 2-3 Big 12) on both sides of the ball, posting in a team-best 16 kills (.324) along with a season-high nine blocks. Middle blocker Peyton Williams (.474) and outside hitter Kylee Zumach (.345) each turned in 11 kills in helping the Wildcats snap their three-match losing streak.
"It was huge," Zumach, a redshirt junior, said after the win. "We always say 'a win's a win,' and I thought we showed a lot of heart and resiliency in that one. It was nice to see that we can win in five sets like that."
Williams matched her career-best effort with seven blocks as six different Cats recorded multiple stuffs. Middle blockers Elle Sandbothe (6), Macy Flowers (4), Zsofia Gyimes (3) along with Zumach (3) helped round out the season-high output and post the team's second straight match with 10 or more blocks – a first on the season after recording zero blocks against Texas a week ago.
"The things we are trying to effect positive change in, we're starting to see the benefits of that," said head coach Suzie Fritz. "I thought our serving was more productive. We have to do it more consistently well, but when we were on top of our serve, it helped us position ourselves to actually block more balls … Pretty excited about siding-out at 67%, that's above our mark of where we think we have to be to win most matches."
K-State rejected six Texas Tech (12-6, 1-4 Big 12) attacks in both the first and fourth sets, as the Cats forced TTU into as many attacking errors as it had kills (11) in a 25-15 first-set victory. Flowers and Gyimes came off the bench and teamed up for three blocks in the fourth set to help K-State tie the match at two after Tech stole Sets 2 and 3.
"That's kind of Macy's thing, her identity is as a blocker," Fritz added. "I thought Zsofia came in and did a nice job of upgrading us defensively. She did a nice job of blocking in right-front, got some really good touches, upgraded us with her serve."
Following the Wildcats' win in the first set. Texas Tech's Chandler Atwood propelled the Red Raiders with 12 kills over the second and third sets. The TTU defense held K-State under a .150 attacking percentage in both sets. Set 2 was level at 22, but Tech scored three of the next four to close out the set. A 6-1 Red Raider spurt in the third set created a six-point gap that the Cats were unable to overcome.
Atwood finished the day leading all players with 21 kills.
"Tech has a really nice volleyball team," Fritz added. "They dig a lot of balls, they play pretty tenaciously. They've got some physical players and some physical parts to their team. I feel pretty good. The ebbs and flows, the inconsistencies, are what we are still trying to grow out of. But I think when we are good, we are pretty good."
"They (Texas Tech) stepped up their serving," Zumach added. "It was hard for us to pass and get our offense going. I think we are still working on staying positive and using good communication when we are down. We stepped that up in the fourth. Mentally, we definitely flipped the switch."
Behind Gyimes' serve in the fourth, K-State rattled off five consecutive points as part of an 8-1 Wildcat run with the score tied 10-10 – opening an unsurmountable 18-11 edge and forcing a final set.
K-State never trailed in the decisive set, in which Vogel and Williams each collected three kills without an error. The Cats jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, only to see TTU bounce back with four straight points. In response, K-State went on its own 4-0 run and distanced itself from the Red Raiders in picking up its second conference win and seventh straight against Tech.
Redshirt sophomore setter Sarah Dixon had the squad's only double-double, digging 13 balls to go with 19 assists. Dixon leads the team with eight double-doubles on the season. Fellow setter Brooke Smith tallied a team-best 27 assists to go with eight digs and picked up her team-leading 19th service ace.
Junior libero Reilly Killeen had a match-high 26 digs – one short of her career high. Redshirt junior defensive specialist Devan Fairfield turned in a season-high 14 digs.
K-State travels to Ames, Iowa, to take on 18th-ranked Iowa State (11-3, 2-2 Big 12) on Wednesday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m. Fans can listen to Rob Voelker call the action live KMAN 1350 AM, 93.3 FM and on K-StateSports.com.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior opposite Bryna Vogel led K-State (9-9, 2-3 Big 12) on both sides of the ball, posting in a team-best 16 kills (.324) along with a season-high nine blocks. Middle blocker Peyton Williams (.474) and outside hitter Kylee Zumach (.345) each turned in 11 kills in helping the Wildcats snap their three-match losing streak.
"It was huge," Zumach, a redshirt junior, said after the win. "We always say 'a win's a win,' and I thought we showed a lot of heart and resiliency in that one. It was nice to see that we can win in five sets like that."
Williams matched her career-best effort with seven blocks as six different Cats recorded multiple stuffs. Middle blockers Elle Sandbothe (6), Macy Flowers (4), Zsofia Gyimes (3) along with Zumach (3) helped round out the season-high output and post the team's second straight match with 10 or more blocks – a first on the season after recording zero blocks against Texas a week ago.
"The things we are trying to effect positive change in, we're starting to see the benefits of that," said head coach Suzie Fritz. "I thought our serving was more productive. We have to do it more consistently well, but when we were on top of our serve, it helped us position ourselves to actually block more balls … Pretty excited about siding-out at 67%, that's above our mark of where we think we have to be to win most matches."
K-State rejected six Texas Tech (12-6, 1-4 Big 12) attacks in both the first and fourth sets, as the Cats forced TTU into as many attacking errors as it had kills (11) in a 25-15 first-set victory. Flowers and Gyimes came off the bench and teamed up for three blocks in the fourth set to help K-State tie the match at two after Tech stole Sets 2 and 3.
"That's kind of Macy's thing, her identity is as a blocker," Fritz added. "I thought Zsofia came in and did a nice job of upgrading us defensively. She did a nice job of blocking in right-front, got some really good touches, upgraded us with her serve."
Following the Wildcats' win in the first set. Texas Tech's Chandler Atwood propelled the Red Raiders with 12 kills over the second and third sets. The TTU defense held K-State under a .150 attacking percentage in both sets. Set 2 was level at 22, but Tech scored three of the next four to close out the set. A 6-1 Red Raider spurt in the third set created a six-point gap that the Cats were unable to overcome.
Atwood finished the day leading all players with 21 kills.
"Tech has a really nice volleyball team," Fritz added. "They dig a lot of balls, they play pretty tenaciously. They've got some physical players and some physical parts to their team. I feel pretty good. The ebbs and flows, the inconsistencies, are what we are still trying to grow out of. But I think when we are good, we are pretty good."
"They (Texas Tech) stepped up their serving," Zumach added. "It was hard for us to pass and get our offense going. I think we are still working on staying positive and using good communication when we are down. We stepped that up in the fourth. Mentally, we definitely flipped the switch."
Behind Gyimes' serve in the fourth, K-State rattled off five consecutive points as part of an 8-1 Wildcat run with the score tied 10-10 – opening an unsurmountable 18-11 edge and forcing a final set.
K-State never trailed in the decisive set, in which Vogel and Williams each collected three kills without an error. The Cats jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, only to see TTU bounce back with four straight points. In response, K-State went on its own 4-0 run and distanced itself from the Red Raiders in picking up its second conference win and seventh straight against Tech.
Redshirt sophomore setter Sarah Dixon had the squad's only double-double, digging 13 balls to go with 19 assists. Dixon leads the team with eight double-doubles on the season. Fellow setter Brooke Smith tallied a team-best 27 assists to go with eight digs and picked up her team-leading 19th service ace.
Junior libero Reilly Killeen had a match-high 26 digs – one short of her career high. Redshirt junior defensive specialist Devan Fairfield turned in a season-high 14 digs.
K-State travels to Ames, Iowa, to take on 18th-ranked Iowa State (11-3, 2-2 Big 12) on Wednesday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m. Fans can listen to Rob Voelker call the action live KMAN 1350 AM, 93.3 FM and on K-StateSports.com.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State posted a .214 attacking percentage while holding Texas Tech to a .163 clip.
- K-State tallied a season-high 18 team blocks.
- Vogel led the Cats with 16 kills for the second straight match.
- Texas Tech held a 66-57 edge in total kills and posted more kills in every set other than Set 1.
- Three Wildcats with 10 or more kills (Vogel, Williams, Zumach) each hit better than .340.
- TTU owned a 85-79 advantage in total digs.
- Dixon (19 assists, 13 digs) tallied her team-leading eighth double-double.
- K-State now leads the all-time series with Texas Tech, 37-10, and has won the last seven meetings overall.
- K-State is now 21-1 all-time at home vs. TTU, and head coach Suzie Fritz is 16-1 at home against the Red Raiders.
- Both of the Wildcats' Big 12 wins this season have been in five sets.
- It was the first five-set match against the Red Raiders since 2014
- K-State is 3-3 in five set matches this season – equaling its mark in all of 2016.
- It was the first victory this season for the Cats when trailing 2-1.
Team Stats
TTU
KSU
Kills
66
57
Errors
34
20
Attempts
196
173
Hitting %
.163
.214
Points
75.0
79.0
Assists
62
50
Aces
1
4
Blocks
8.0
18.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
9
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
7
Kills
11
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
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