Kansas State University Athletics
Fritz Signs Mati to NLI for 2020 Campaign
May 19, 2020 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State head volleyball coach Suzie Fritz added to the nation's No. 23 recruiting class with the signing of opposite/outside hitter Tessa Mati to a National Letter of Intent (NLI), the 20-year head coach announced Tuesday.
Mati (pronounced "mah-tee") stands 6-foot-4 and hails from Grosseto, Italy, and played for the Italian club team Megabox Battistelli Pesaro in Vallefoglia. Mati also played for the club Vigili del Fuoco Grosseto from 2014-18.
"We are excited for the addition of Tessa to this already dynamic incoming class," Fritz said of Mati. "She will add a strong presence, standing at 6-4, as well as experience competing at the international level. She has a great arm and the ability to generate kills offensively, as well as a strong blocking presence at the net. She will surely increase depth to our outsider hitter group."
Mati joins the country's 23rd-ranked recruiting class for 2020, according to PrepVolleyball.com. K-State garnered a national top-30 recruiting class honor for the third consecutive season.
The class includes four incoming freshmen in outside hitter Aliyah Carter (Dubuque, Iowa), middle blocker Kadye Fernholz (Miller, South Dakota), defensive specialist/libero Mackenzie Morris (Dallas, Texas) and outside hitter Jayden Nembhard (Keller, Texas) to go with senior transfer setter Shelby Martin (East Carolina).
Mati becomes the first student-athlete in K-State volleyball history to hail from Italy and is the 12th international recruit under Fritz, who enters her 20th season at the helm of the Wildcats. Fritz is the winningest head coach in program history, notching 350 career victories over her 19 seasons.
2020 K-State Volleyball Signing Class
Mati (pronounced "mah-tee") stands 6-foot-4 and hails from Grosseto, Italy, and played for the Italian club team Megabox Battistelli Pesaro in Vallefoglia. Mati also played for the club Vigili del Fuoco Grosseto from 2014-18.
"We are excited for the addition of Tessa to this already dynamic incoming class," Fritz said of Mati. "She will add a strong presence, standing at 6-4, as well as experience competing at the international level. She has a great arm and the ability to generate kills offensively, as well as a strong blocking presence at the net. She will surely increase depth to our outsider hitter group."
Mati joins the country's 23rd-ranked recruiting class for 2020, according to PrepVolleyball.com. K-State garnered a national top-30 recruiting class honor for the third consecutive season.
The class includes four incoming freshmen in outside hitter Aliyah Carter (Dubuque, Iowa), middle blocker Kadye Fernholz (Miller, South Dakota), defensive specialist/libero Mackenzie Morris (Dallas, Texas) and outside hitter Jayden Nembhard (Keller, Texas) to go with senior transfer setter Shelby Martin (East Carolina).
Mati becomes the first student-athlete in K-State volleyball history to hail from Italy and is the 12th international recruit under Fritz, who enters her 20th season at the helm of the Wildcats. Fritz is the winningest head coach in program history, notching 350 career victories over her 19 seasons.
2020 K-State Volleyball Signing Class
| Name | Pos. | Height | Hometown / High School / Club |
| Aliyah Carter | OH | 5-9 | Dubuque, Iowa / Wahlert Catholic HS / Adrenaline |
| Kadye Fernholz | MB | 6-1 | Miller, S.D. / Miller HS / Adrenaline |
| Shelby Martin | S | 5-11 | Waxahachie, Texas / Waxahachie (ECU) / Skyline |
| Tessa Mati | OPP/OH | 6-4 | Grosseto, Italy / Megabox Battistelli Pesaro |
| Mackenzie Morris | DS/L | 5-7 | Dallas, Texas / Ursuline Academy / Excel |
| Jayden Nembhard | OH | 6-1 | Keller, Texas / Keller HS / Excel |
Players Mentioned
OH
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