Cats’ Non-Con Slate Wraps Up at Gopher Fall Classic

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State volleyball heads into its final weekend of its non-conference schedule at the Gopher Fall Classic at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minnesota, facing Green Bay and No. 7 Minnesota.

The Wildcats (9-1), who enter the weekend on a seven-match winning streak, begin the event against Green Bay (5-5) at 7 p.m., Friday before capping the weekend at Minnesota (5-2) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. K-State is 2-0 all-time against the Phoenix and 3-15 vs. the Golden Gophers.

The Cats' matchup with Minnesota will air on Big Ten Network Plus. Fans can listen to Rob Voelker on the call all weekend on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with free, live audio available at K-StateSports.com/watch.

After its weekend in Minneapolis, K-State will return to Ahearn Field House to open its Big 12 schedule with No. 3 Texas on Wednesday, September 19. The match with the Longhorns will be televised nationally on ESPNU with first serve set for 6 p.m.

MATCH #11
K-STATE (9-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. GREEN BAY (5-5, 0-0 Horizon)
Friday, September 14, 2018 // 7 p.m. CT // Maturi Pavilion (5,000) // Minneapolis, Minn.
Radio: KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Rob Voelker
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch
Live Stats

MATCH #12
K-STATE (9-1, 0-0 Big 12) at #7 MINNESOTA (5-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, September 15, 2018 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Maturi Pavilion (5,000) // Minneapolis, Minn.
Watch: BTN Plus
Radio: KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Rob Voelker
Listen Online: K-StateSports.com/watch
Live Stats

AT A GLANCE

K-State (9-1) extended its season-long winning streak to seven matches after a straight-set win at UMKC Tuesday night.
The Wildcats hit a season-high .417 in their victory over the Kangaroos and were led by Kylee Zumach who had a match-high 14 kills to go with 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the year.
In the latest AVCA Top 25 poll, the Wildcats are on the cusp of breaking into the ranks as they are receiving votes for the first time since the initial poll in 2017.
After a perfect 3-0 weekend at the K-State Invitational, setter Sarah Dixon was named the event's most valuable player while middle blocker Peyton Williams was also selected to the all-tournament team.
Dixon set a career high with 48 assists against the Beavers Friday night and turned in her second double-double of the season against UNO Saturday.
Williams led the Cats in offensive efficiency, hitting at a .485 clip over the course of the three matches.
Over the weekend, freshman Gloria Mutiri set highs in kills (16), hitting percentage (.467), digs (11), blocks (5) and points (18.5).

SCOUTING THE FIELD

While at the Gopher Fall Classic, K-State will meet Green Bay (5-5) and No. 7 Minnesota (5-2) at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis.
Green Bay has won four of its last five matches, with each victory coming in straight sets.
The Phoenix are led by Taylor Wolf, who averages 4.86 kills per set while hitting .266.
Alex Zakutney and Ashley Sledge each produce better than 2.00 kills/set while Sledge has a team-high .331 attacking percentage.
Minnesota, who was ranked No. 1 in the country a week ago, enters the weekend as the seventh-ranked team after back-to-back losses to No. 18 Oregon and fourth-ranked Stanford.
As a team, the Golden Gophers hit .303, which is good for fifth-highest in the nation.
Stephanie Samedy leads Minnesota with her 3.81 kills per set while Regan Pittman hits .419 while averaging 2.78 kills a set.
The Gopher defense averages over 3.00 blocks/set, also fifth-best in the country, as five different players produce at least 1.00 blocks/set.

INSIDE THE SERIES

The Cats have taken both meetings all-time in their series with Green Bay.
K-State swept the Phoenix in Green Bay on Aug. 29, 2014 and took a straight-set decision against on Sept. 4, 2015 in Manhattan.
Coach Fritz is 2-0 vs. Green Bay in her career.
Minnesota owns a 15-3 mark vs. K-State, dating back to 1974.
The Wildcats defeated the Gophers in five sets in the teams' previous meeting on Sept. 14, 2012 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Minnesota was ranked No. 10 in the country at the time.
Fritz is 1-3 in her career against the Golden Gophers.
K-State has lost its three previous road matches in the series with Minnesota.
The matchup will mark the fifth straight times in which UM is ranked, dating back to 2004.

GOING STREAKING

K-State is currently riding a season-long seven-match winning streak in which it has dropped just three sets.
The streak is the Wildcats' longest since winning 10 in a row during the 2016 season.
The Cats' 9-1 start is their best start to a season since beginning the 2014 season 13-1.
K-State won its first four home matches and begin 4-0 in true road matches for the first time since 2014.

VS RANKED OPPONENTS

Saturday's match vs. No. 7 Minnesota will mark K-State's first match this season against a team from the top 25.
Dating back to 2016, the Cats have lost their last 15 matches to ranked opponents, with the last win coming at No. 6 Hawaii on Aug. 27, 2016.
The Cats, who are receiving votes in the latest poll, are 3-1 against teams that are receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll.

SEEING DOUBLE

Redshirt senior Kylee Zumach turned in her team-leading fourth double-double of the season Tuesday at UMKC, leading the Cats with 14 kills and 10 digs.
Now playing all six rotations, her four double-doubles already match her output from 2017 and has upped her career total to nine.
Zumach owns four of K-State's seven double-doubles this season.
With her 14 kills Tuesday, Zumach moved into sole possession of fourth place on K-State's all-time kills list (rally scoring).
She is 20 away from third and 22 shy of tying second on the career charts.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Sarah Dixon

Gloria Mutiri

Peyton Williams

Kylee Zumach

Kansas State University Athletics