Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, October 16
Manhattan, KS
8 p.m.
Kansas State University
3-2,3-2Big 12
2
vs
3
Texas
7-0,7-0Big 12
1
2
3
4
5
F
Texas
25
21
20
25
15
3
Kansas St.
19
25
25
18
7
2
Carter Sets Freshman Record, Cats Test No. 1 Texas
Oct 16, 2020 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Aliyah Carter's freshman-record 26 kills helped the 13th-ranked K-State Wildcats push the No. 1 Texas Longhorns to five sets Friday night before stumbling, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-25, 7-15, at Bramlage Coliseum.
Texas (7-0, 7-0 Big 12), who had dropped just one set all season entering the match, was forced to rally after K-State (3-2, 3-2 Big 12) claimed the second and third sets to take a 2-1 match lead. Carter picked up eight kills in Set 3 and hit a team-high .293 in the match. Redshirt junior Brynn Carlson added 20 kills, as the duo accounted for 46 of the Wildcats' 60 kills on the night.
"We had opportunities," head coach Suzie Fritz said after the match. "In Game 4, specifically, I think is probably where we needed to hold up a little bit better in terms of serve and pass. That's what got us in it in Game 3 and we felt we didn't hold that level of execution through Game 4 and late into the match.
"I think they're disappointed and a little bit angry, which is exactly how we want them to be. And somewhat optimistic about the level that they're capable of playing at. We are still a work in progress, we are still learning about each other and learning how to play together a little more seamlessly."
Carter's career night broke Kylee Zumach's program record of 25 kills by a freshman set in 2014. The Dubuque, Iowa, product did not commit an error on 16 swings in picking up eight kills in the third set. She tallied six kills in both the first and fourth sets.
"I think she's fearless," added Fritz. "I think that's maybe the thing I like about her the most. She's done a nice job of competing. She doesn't back down from a challenge, she's fearless in that way. I think a lot of those freshmen have shown that.
"Those are the people that grow up fast. You can learn a lot in those moments."
The Cats registered 15 kills and hit .379 in the second set and totaled 16 more kills in the third at a .293 clip. UT hit .419 and .316 in the fourth and fifth sets, respectively, while forcing K-State into more errors (7) than kills in the final frame.
"I think we needed to show a bit more competitive composure later," said Fritz. "What I like about this team, maybe more than anything maybe, is I think they're incredibly competitive.
"It's not about being great for one moment. It's about being able to be good over the course of time. Against a team like Texas, you have to be really good for a really long time."
After dropping the opening set and trailing 17-13 in the second, K-State closed on a 12-4 run to even the match. Senior setter Shelby Martin served up two aces during a late five-point burst that handed the Cats a 23-20 lead.
The third set is the only frame in which K-State hit at a higher efficiency than the Longhorns (.293-.227). A 12-3 Wildcat run closed the stanza, a stretch that included aces by Dru Kuck and Jacque Smith and was capped by a kill from Carlson. The Cats served up four aces in the third and finished with nine on the night.
Carlson turned in the second 20-kill performance of her career.
K-State clawed within three points in the fourth, 16-13, before UT rattled off eight of the next 10 points in forcing the winner-take-all fifth set. Carlson added four kills on 10 swings without an error.
Four Cats reached double-digit digs, led by freshman libero Mackenzie Morris' 21. Martin added a double-double with a dozen digs to go with 49 assists. Kuck and Smith each contributed 11 digs, helping K-State to a 76-67 edge in total digs.
"I think our liberos are doing a tremendous job – Kuck, (Loren) Hinkle, Morris and Smith - of keeping us in rallies and I think the efforts that they're making is giving us a lot of chances," Fritz added. "I think there's a lot of positive things we can grow from."
Logan Eggleston, the nation's leader in kills per set, led Texas with 20 kills and hit .309. Skylar Fields added 18 and Asjia O'Neal picked up 14.
Texas finished with a team hitting percentage of .321 to the Cats' .201, behind 12 team blocks.
"Texas is a handful," Fritz said. 'Eggleston is a player-of-the-year candidate. They have two of the more physical left sides. They're a lot to handle out there."
Four of the last five meetings in Manhattan between the teams that have gone to five sets. K-State has played the full five sets in four of its first five matches of the year.
The Wildcats and Longhorns conclude the two-match set on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum, with first serve set for 6:30 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Rob Voelker will have the call on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with free, live audio available at K-StateSports.com/watch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Texas (7-0, 7-0 Big 12), who had dropped just one set all season entering the match, was forced to rally after K-State (3-2, 3-2 Big 12) claimed the second and third sets to take a 2-1 match lead. Carter picked up eight kills in Set 3 and hit a team-high .293 in the match. Redshirt junior Brynn Carlson added 20 kills, as the duo accounted for 46 of the Wildcats' 60 kills on the night.
"We had opportunities," head coach Suzie Fritz said after the match. "In Game 4, specifically, I think is probably where we needed to hold up a little bit better in terms of serve and pass. That's what got us in it in Game 3 and we felt we didn't hold that level of execution through Game 4 and late into the match.
"I think they're disappointed and a little bit angry, which is exactly how we want them to be. And somewhat optimistic about the level that they're capable of playing at. We are still a work in progress, we are still learning about each other and learning how to play together a little more seamlessly."
Carter's career night broke Kylee Zumach's program record of 25 kills by a freshman set in 2014. The Dubuque, Iowa, product did not commit an error on 16 swings in picking up eight kills in the third set. She tallied six kills in both the first and fourth sets.
"I think she's fearless," added Fritz. "I think that's maybe the thing I like about her the most. She's done a nice job of competing. She doesn't back down from a challenge, she's fearless in that way. I think a lot of those freshmen have shown that.
"Those are the people that grow up fast. You can learn a lot in those moments."
The Cats registered 15 kills and hit .379 in the second set and totaled 16 more kills in the third at a .293 clip. UT hit .419 and .316 in the fourth and fifth sets, respectively, while forcing K-State into more errors (7) than kills in the final frame.
"I think we needed to show a bit more competitive composure later," said Fritz. "What I like about this team, maybe more than anything maybe, is I think they're incredibly competitive.
"It's not about being great for one moment. It's about being able to be good over the course of time. Against a team like Texas, you have to be really good for a really long time."
After dropping the opening set and trailing 17-13 in the second, K-State closed on a 12-4 run to even the match. Senior setter Shelby Martin served up two aces during a late five-point burst that handed the Cats a 23-20 lead.
The third set is the only frame in which K-State hit at a higher efficiency than the Longhorns (.293-.227). A 12-3 Wildcat run closed the stanza, a stretch that included aces by Dru Kuck and Jacque Smith and was capped by a kill from Carlson. The Cats served up four aces in the third and finished with nine on the night.
Carlson turned in the second 20-kill performance of her career.
K-State clawed within three points in the fourth, 16-13, before UT rattled off eight of the next 10 points in forcing the winner-take-all fifth set. Carlson added four kills on 10 swings without an error.
Four Cats reached double-digit digs, led by freshman libero Mackenzie Morris' 21. Martin added a double-double with a dozen digs to go with 49 assists. Kuck and Smith each contributed 11 digs, helping K-State to a 76-67 edge in total digs.
"I think our liberos are doing a tremendous job – Kuck, (Loren) Hinkle, Morris and Smith - of keeping us in rallies and I think the efforts that they're making is giving us a lot of chances," Fritz added. "I think there's a lot of positive things we can grow from."
Logan Eggleston, the nation's leader in kills per set, led Texas with 20 kills and hit .309. Skylar Fields added 18 and Asjia O'Neal picked up 14.
Texas finished with a team hitting percentage of .321 to the Cats' .201, behind 12 team blocks.
"Texas is a handful," Fritz said. 'Eggleston is a player-of-the-year candidate. They have two of the more physical left sides. They're a lot to handle out there."
Four of the last five meetings in Manhattan between the teams that have gone to five sets. K-State has played the full five sets in four of its first five matches of the year.
The Wildcats and Longhorns conclude the two-match set on Saturday at Bramlage Coliseum, with first serve set for 6:30 p.m. The match will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Rob Voelker will have the call on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) with free, live audio available at K-StateSports.com/watch.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- K-State hit .201 as a team (60 kills, 27 errors, 164 attacks).
- Texas turned in a .321 hitting percentage (67 kills, 14 errors, 165 swings).
- Carter's 26 kills set a K-State freshman record set in 2014 (15, Kylee Zumach).
- Carlson added 20 kills, the second 20-kill performance of her career.
- Morris led all players with 21 digs.
- Martin produced her third double-double of the season (49 assists, 12 digs).
- Four Wildcats reached 10 or more digs, including Kuck and Smith each with 11.
- K-State served a season-high nine aces.
- Texas tallied 12 team blocks to K-State's five.
- Texas leads the all-time series 44-7.
- The Cats are 4-21 at home in the series.
- Fritz is 3-36 in her career against UT.
- The Wildcats have dropped the last 34 matchups to the Longhorns.
- Texas has been ranked in each of the last 33 meetings in the series, including being in the top 10 in each of the last 19 matchups.
- K-State and Texas have gone to five sets in four of the last five meetings in Manhattan.
- The Cats have played 24 of a possible 25 sets, playing four five-setters in their first five outings.
Team Stats
UT
KState
Kills
67
60
Errors
14
27
Attempts
165
164
Hitting %
.321
.201
Points
87
74
Assists
63
60
Aces
8
9
Blocks
12
5
Game Leaders
Kills
26
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
20
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
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