Top-Ranked Texas Powers Past Cats Saturday

MANHATTAN, Kan. – No. 13 K-State was limited to a season-low .141 hitting efficiency in a straight-set defeat to the top-ranked Texas Longhorns Saturday night at Bramlage Coliseum, falling 15-25, 16-25, 16-25.

Texas (8-0, 8-0 Big 12) used 11 team blocks in forcing the Wildcats (3-3, 3-3 Big 12) into 19 attacking errors in three sets. K-State produced just 32 kills while the Longhorns managed 44, led by 17 from Logan Eggleston.

"I felt like we got off to a decent start, but in all honestly, I don't think we executed terribly well on our side of the net," head coach Suzie Fritz said after the match. "(Texas) made some pretty effective changes. Last night I thought our serve and pass was significantly better, we won that little battle within the match. But tonight, I didn't feel that way. Our first contact, in terms of serve and pass, wasn't quite as strong as it was last night. That felt like a distinguishable difference.

"I felt like we were relatively prepared coming in, we just weren't efficient enough to win the match."

The Cats were led offensively by freshman Jayden Nembhard, who totaled seven kills in just two sets off the bench. Brynn Carlson and Kadye Fernholz added six kills apiece while Aliyah Carter contributed five.

K-State took an early three-point lead in the opening set, 7-4, before a 12-3 Longhorn spurt midway through the frame. Texas closed the set on a 15-5 run, led by six kills on 13 swings by Eggleston. Fernholz tallied four kills on six attacks to pace the Cats.

Texas did not commit an attacking error in the first game, totaling 13 kills on 30 attempts (.433). Conversely, the UT defense picked up six team blocks in holding K-State to a .167 efficiency. The Longhorns also served up three aces.

The Longhorns led from start to finish in the second, as they tallied eight of the set's first 10 points. Later, a 5-1 run opened a nine-point lead. Eggleston added six more kills in the second set, helping Texas hit .448. Nembhard entered the match and put down five kills on nine attacks with just one error. Abigail Archibong picked up all three of her kills in the set.

With the Wildcats possessing a 15-14 lead, Texas rattled off the next eight points on its way to closing the match on an 11-1 run.

K-State hit a match low .029 in the final set, recording nine kills against eight errors on 34 swings. Carter had a team-high three kills on five attacks.

Freshman libero Mackenzie Morris led K-State in digs for the sixth straight match to begin the season, registering nine on the night.

The K-State defense picked up four total blocks, as Archibong led with a pair of block assists.

Brionne Butler hit .562 while totaling 10 kills on 16 attempts (one error).

Texas' .389 hitting percentage was a season high by a Wildcat opponent this season. The match marked the Wildcats' first three-set match of the season.

The Cats will remain at home as the Oklahoma Sooners visit Bramlage Coliseum for a two-match series that begins on Thursday. Both matches will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. 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 .141 as a team (32 kills, 19 errors, 92 attacks).
Texas turned in a .389 hitting percentage (44 kills, 7 errors, 95 swings).
Nembhard led the Cats with seven kills.
Carlson and Carter each added six kills while Fernholz had five.
Morris led K-State in digs (9) for the sixth straight match.
Texas' hitting percentage was a season high by a K-State opponent while the Cats' efficiency marked a season low.
Texas tallied 11 team blocks to K-State's four.
Eggleston led all players with 17 kills.
The Longhorns owned a 6-1 advantage in service aces.

NOTES

Texas leads the all-time series 45-7.
The Cats are 4-22 at home in the series.
Fritz is 3-37 in her career against UT.
The Wildcats have dropped the last 35 matchups to the Longhorns.
Texas has been ranked in each of the last 34 meetings in the series, including being in the top 10 in each of the last 20 matchups.
K-State and Texas have gone to five sets in four of the last six meetings in Manhattan.
The match marked the first three-set match K-State has played this season.

Next Event

Team Stats

Jayden Nembhard

Brynn Carlson

Kadye Fernholz

Aliyah Carter

Players Mentioned

Abigail Archibong

Brynn Carlson

Aliyah Carter

Kadye Fernholz

Mackenzie Morris

Jayden Nembhard

Players Mentioned

Abigail Archibong

Brynn Carlson

Aliyah Carter

Kadye Fernholz

Mackenzie Morris

Jayden Nembhard

Kansas State University Athletics