Kansas State University Athletics
Dixon, Mutiri, Zumach Tabbed AVCA All-America Honorable Mention
Dec 12, 2018 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – For the first time in program history, K-State had three players receive All-America honors as Sarah Dixon, Gloria Mutiri and Kylee Zumach were each tabbed American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention selections Wednesday.
The three selections mark the third time K-State has had multiple All-America honors in the same season (two in 2003 and 2014). Zumach earns her second career All-America Honorable Mention nod (2014) while Dixon and Mutiri both collect the first awards of their respective careers. Zumach is the fifth Wildcat to be named an All-American more than once.
Dixon, Mutiri and Zumach were each named AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team on December 4, with Mutiri becoming just the second Wildcat to be voted AVCA Region Freshman of the Year (Zumach in 2014). The three first-team all-region awards were most in a single season in K-State history.
Dixon, a 5-foot-9 redshirt junior setter, finished the regular season as the Big 12's leader in assists per set at 11.21 – the first Wildcat to lead the conference in the category since 1998 (Disney Bronnenberg). Dixon spearheaded a K-State offense that ranked third in the conference with a .240 team hitting percentage and was twice named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week during the season.
The Chino Hills, California, product tied for the team lead with nine double-doubles this season, picking up 232 digs (2.37 per set). Dixon collected 20 service aces in her second season with K-State, third-most on the team.
Mutiri, a 6-foot-2 freshman opposite, was a unanimous Big 12 All-Rookie Team selection and named All-Big 12 Second Team at the conclusion of the regular season. She was also tabbed Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice in her initial campaign with the Wildcats.
The Sand Springs, Oklahoma, native finished the season second on the Wildcats with 271 kills and 2.77 kills per set average while hitting .263. For much of the season, she led the Cats in kills and kills per set in conference-only matches, as she finished with 164 kills (2.69 per set) in league play.
Playing six rotations in her first collegiate season, Mutiri collected 192 digs (1.96 per set) while picking up three double-doubles. She was third on the team with 67 total blocks to go with 15 service aces.
Zumach led K-State in kills (321) and kills per set (3.45) in her redshirt senior season – her third time finishing as the team leader in the categories. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter ends her career second on K-State's all-time kill chart with 1,379 (rally-scoring era).
Twice, the Buffalo, Minnesota, native was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week this season as she had eight matches with at least 15 kills and a team-best three 20-kill matches. Zumach's final season saw her set career highs with 247 digs (2.66 per set) and 3.91 points/set while picking up nine double-doubles.
The trio makes 16 All-America selections under head coach Suzie Fritz, who just completed her 18th season at the helm of the Wildcats. K-State finished the 2018 season with a 15-12 mark (5-11 Big 12), Fritz's 14th winning season as head coach.
The three selections mark the third time K-State has had multiple All-America honors in the same season (two in 2003 and 2014). Zumach earns her second career All-America Honorable Mention nod (2014) while Dixon and Mutiri both collect the first awards of their respective careers. Zumach is the fifth Wildcat to be named an All-American more than once.
Dixon, Mutiri and Zumach were each named AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team on December 4, with Mutiri becoming just the second Wildcat to be voted AVCA Region Freshman of the Year (Zumach in 2014). The three first-team all-region awards were most in a single season in K-State history.
Dixon, a 5-foot-9 redshirt junior setter, finished the regular season as the Big 12's leader in assists per set at 11.21 – the first Wildcat to lead the conference in the category since 1998 (Disney Bronnenberg). Dixon spearheaded a K-State offense that ranked third in the conference with a .240 team hitting percentage and was twice named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week during the season.
The Chino Hills, California, product tied for the team lead with nine double-doubles this season, picking up 232 digs (2.37 per set). Dixon collected 20 service aces in her second season with K-State, third-most on the team.
Mutiri, a 6-foot-2 freshman opposite, was a unanimous Big 12 All-Rookie Team selection and named All-Big 12 Second Team at the conclusion of the regular season. She was also tabbed Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice in her initial campaign with the Wildcats.
The Sand Springs, Oklahoma, native finished the season second on the Wildcats with 271 kills and 2.77 kills per set average while hitting .263. For much of the season, she led the Cats in kills and kills per set in conference-only matches, as she finished with 164 kills (2.69 per set) in league play.
Playing six rotations in her first collegiate season, Mutiri collected 192 digs (1.96 per set) while picking up three double-doubles. She was third on the team with 67 total blocks to go with 15 service aces.
Zumach led K-State in kills (321) and kills per set (3.45) in her redshirt senior season – her third time finishing as the team leader in the categories. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter ends her career second on K-State's all-time kill chart with 1,379 (rally-scoring era).
Twice, the Buffalo, Minnesota, native was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week this season as she had eight matches with at least 15 kills and a team-best three 20-kill matches. Zumach's final season saw her set career highs with 247 digs (2.66 per set) and 3.91 points/set while picking up nine double-doubles.
The trio makes 16 All-America selections under head coach Suzie Fritz, who just completed her 18th season at the helm of the Wildcats. K-State finished the 2018 season with a 15-12 mark (5-11 Big 12), Fritz's 14th winning season as head coach.
Players Mentioned
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