Mutiri Named Midwest Region Freshman of the Year; Three Selected First Team All-Region
Dec 04, 2018 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State's Gloria Mutiri was named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest Region Freshman of the Year as she, along with Sarah Dixon and Kylee Zumach, were selected AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team, the organization announced Tuesday.
Mutiri becomes just the second Wildcat to be named AVCA Region Freshman of the Year, joining Zumach who earned the honor in 2014. The three first-team selections are the most in a single season in program history.
Dixon and Mutiri each earn their first All-Region honors while Zumach collects her second career recognition after she was a first-team selection in 2014 as a freshman.
Mutiri, a 6-foot-2 freshman opposite, was a unanimous Big 12 All-Rookie 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.
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. 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.
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.
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 24 All-Region 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.
Mutiri becomes just the second Wildcat to be named AVCA Region Freshman of the Year, joining Zumach who earned the honor in 2014. The three first-team selections are the most in a single season in program history.
Dixon and Mutiri each earn their first All-Region honors while Zumach collects her second career recognition after she was a first-team selection in 2014 as a freshman.
Mutiri, a 6-foot-2 freshman opposite, was a unanimous Big 12 All-Rookie 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.
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. 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.
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.
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 24 All-Region 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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