Kansas State University Athletics
Wednesday, October 17
Ahearn Field House
8 p.m
Kansas State University
11-7, 1-6Big 12
3
vs
1
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Kansas
13-5, 6-1Big 12
1
2
3
4
F
KU
19
25
21
25
1
K-State
25
23
25
27
3
Cats Knock Off 22nd-Ranked Jayhawks in Four Sets
Oct 18, 2018 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Behind an attack that featured five players reach double-digit kills, K-State knocked off No. 22 Kansas in four sets (25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 27-25) in the season's first Dillons Sunflower Showdown Wednesday night at Ahearn Field House.
K-State (11-7, 1-6 Big 12) snapped KU's (13-5, 6-1 Big 12) nine-match winning streak while also putting an end to its own six-match skid to begin league play. The Wildcats pick up their first win over the Jayhawks since 2014, breaking a run of seven consecutive matches in the series.
"That was big time," head coach Suzie Fritz said after her team's first home win over KU since 2011. "It was more than winning. We've been pretty focused on just trying to get over the hump and focused on winning, but it much more than that.
"I thought they played together. I thought they played for each other and executed extremely well – everybody showing up at the same time and doing their job. It really felt like a team effort."
"That's five years in the making," fifth-year senior Kylee Zumach said. "We haven't had a conference win, they haven't had a loss. We've been working so hard and talking about what we need to do, so putting that all together and everyone doing their part and being a positive contributor – I started crying, I didn't know what else to do.
"I am so proud of this whole program right now."
Zumach, along with freshman Gloria Mutiri, led the Cats with 13 kills apiece, aiding K-State to a 61-48 advantage in the category. Redshirt freshman Brooke Heyne and junior Elle Sandbothe each added a dozen kills while Peyton Williams contributed 10.
"I can't point to one person or one thing," added Fritz. "It was the fact that we got them all rolling at the same time. Everybody did their job and everybody contributed in ways that we needed. When I look at that, it feels pretty good."
Despite the Jayhawks out-blocking the Cats, 13-4, the K-State offense produced a .242 team hitting percentage while limiting KU to .173. Sandbothe's .500 efficiency (12 kills, 2 errors, 20 attacks) was a match high.
Zumach picked up her team-leading eighth double-double, collecting 16 digs. A match-high 21 digs were turned in by redshirt senior libero Devan Fairfield, helping lift K-State to a 74-68 edge in team digs.
The Cats picked up a season-best 10 service aces as senior Zsofia Gyimes and Williams each tallied three. Setter Sarah Dixon and Zumach added a pair apiece while Dixon also handed out 53 assists along with nine digs.
Zumach registered six of her 13 kills in the opening set, as an early 7-1 run handed the Cats a lead they would not relinquish. K-State produced a .278 team efficiency and held KU to .156 in a 25-19 Set 1 win.
The Jayhawks scored the final three points to close the second set and level the match at a set apiece. Heyne, Mutiri and Zumach each added four kills in a frame that saw nine tied scores and three lead changes.
Trailing by a point at 19-18 in a pivotal third set, K-State took a 2-1 lead courtesy of a 7-2 spurt that featured kills by Heyne, Mutiri and Sandbothe. The Wildcat defense forced the Jayhawks into seven attacking errors and a .116 team hitting percentage.
The Cats carried momentum into the final game, opening an 8-3 lead before KU scored six consecutive points to take a 22-20 of its own. Facing set point at 24-22, K-State scored the next three points and five of the final six to close out the extra-point set, 27-25.
Three Jayhawks reached double-figure kills, led by Jada Burse's 17. Setter Camryn Ennis registered a double-double with 25 assists and 13 digs.
Middle blocker Zoe Hill recorded eight blocks while Rachel Langs and Ennis each tallied five.
K-State faces its second straight ranked opponent as it travels to Waco to take on No. 24 Baylor on Saturday. First serve is set for 2 p.m., and will air on FOX Sports Southwest Plus. Fans can listen on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM).
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
K-State (11-7, 1-6 Big 12) snapped KU's (13-5, 6-1 Big 12) nine-match winning streak while also putting an end to its own six-match skid to begin league play. The Wildcats pick up their first win over the Jayhawks since 2014, breaking a run of seven consecutive matches in the series.
"That was big time," head coach Suzie Fritz said after her team's first home win over KU since 2011. "It was more than winning. We've been pretty focused on just trying to get over the hump and focused on winning, but it much more than that.
"I thought they played together. I thought they played for each other and executed extremely well – everybody showing up at the same time and doing their job. It really felt like a team effort."
"That's five years in the making," fifth-year senior Kylee Zumach said. "We haven't had a conference win, they haven't had a loss. We've been working so hard and talking about what we need to do, so putting that all together and everyone doing their part and being a positive contributor – I started crying, I didn't know what else to do.
"I am so proud of this whole program right now."
Zumach, along with freshman Gloria Mutiri, led the Cats with 13 kills apiece, aiding K-State to a 61-48 advantage in the category. Redshirt freshman Brooke Heyne and junior Elle Sandbothe each added a dozen kills while Peyton Williams contributed 10.
"I can't point to one person or one thing," added Fritz. "It was the fact that we got them all rolling at the same time. Everybody did their job and everybody contributed in ways that we needed. When I look at that, it feels pretty good."
Despite the Jayhawks out-blocking the Cats, 13-4, the K-State offense produced a .242 team hitting percentage while limiting KU to .173. Sandbothe's .500 efficiency (12 kills, 2 errors, 20 attacks) was a match high.
Zumach picked up her team-leading eighth double-double, collecting 16 digs. A match-high 21 digs were turned in by redshirt senior libero Devan Fairfield, helping lift K-State to a 74-68 edge in team digs.
The Cats picked up a season-best 10 service aces as senior Zsofia Gyimes and Williams each tallied three. Setter Sarah Dixon and Zumach added a pair apiece while Dixon also handed out 53 assists along with nine digs.
Zumach registered six of her 13 kills in the opening set, as an early 7-1 run handed the Cats a lead they would not relinquish. K-State produced a .278 team efficiency and held KU to .156 in a 25-19 Set 1 win.
The Jayhawks scored the final three points to close the second set and level the match at a set apiece. Heyne, Mutiri and Zumach each added four kills in a frame that saw nine tied scores and three lead changes.
Trailing by a point at 19-18 in a pivotal third set, K-State took a 2-1 lead courtesy of a 7-2 spurt that featured kills by Heyne, Mutiri and Sandbothe. The Wildcat defense forced the Jayhawks into seven attacking errors and a .116 team hitting percentage.
The Cats carried momentum into the final game, opening an 8-3 lead before KU scored six consecutive points to take a 22-20 of its own. Facing set point at 24-22, K-State scored the next three points and five of the final six to close out the extra-point set, 27-25.
Three Jayhawks reached double-figure kills, led by Jada Burse's 17. Setter Camryn Ennis registered a double-double with 25 assists and 13 digs.
Middle blocker Zoe Hill recorded eight blocks while Rachel Langs and Ennis each tallied five.
K-State faces its second straight ranked opponent as it travels to Waco to take on No. 24 Baylor on Saturday. First serve is set for 2 p.m., and will air on FOX Sports Southwest Plus. Fans can listen on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM).
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State hit .242 while Kansas hit .173
- The Wildcats held a 61-48 advantage in total kills and a 74-68 edge in team digs.
- K-State tallied four blocks while KU picked up 13.
- Five Cats reached double-digit kills: Mutiri (13), Zumach (13), Heyne (12), Sandbothe (12), Williams (10).
- Heyne's 12 kills were a career high.
- Zumach turned in her team-leading eighth double-double with 13 kills and 19 digs.
- Sandbothe hit a match-best .500.
- Fairfield had a match-high 21 digs.
- K-State produced 10 service aces, a season high, as Williams set a career high with three.
- K-State leads the all-time series, 64-52-1, and snaps a seven-match losing skid to Kansas.
- The victory marked the Cats' first home win over the Jayhawks since 2011.
- The Wildcats pick up their first win over a ranked opponent since August 27, 2016, a four-set win at No. 6 Hawai'i, and the first home ranked win since November 30, 2013 vs. No. 25 Iowa State (3-0).
- With 337 career wins, head coach Suzie Fritz passes Nebraska's John Cook for third on the Big 12's wins list while a member of the conference.
Team Stats
KU
KSU
Kills
48
61
Errors
21
22
Attempts
156
161
Hitting %
.173
.242
Points
64.0
75.0
Assists
44
57
Aces
3
10
Blocks
13.0
4.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOPP
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballK-State VB | Recap vs UNC and ECU
Monday, September 22
K-State VB | Recap vs Northern Colorado
Monday, September 15
K-State VB | Recap vs Nevada
Sunday, September 07
K-State VB | Match Highlights vs Nevada
Friday, September 05