K-State Faces Wayne State in Home Finale

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Following a four-set win over No. 24 Creighton last Saturday, K-State will take on Wayne State (Neb.) in its home finale on Sunday, with first serve slated for 1 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum.

K-State's (12-7, 10-6 Big 12) victory over Creighton was the Wildcats' first over a ranked opponent since the 2018 season. Sunday's match against Wayne State (0-0) will mark the final home match of the season, as the Cats will finish the 2020-21 regular season at No. 6 Baylor on Wednesday, March 31.

In Saturday's win over the Bluejays, freshman Aliyah Carter turned in 26 kills at a .449 clip – each just shy of her career-best marks. Carter took home her second straight Big 12 Rookie of the Week honor and fourth of the season while also being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.

During the fall portion of schedule, the Wildcats reached a ranking as high as No. 10 and look to boost their postseason resume ahead of the 48-team tournament field to be announced April 4. The entire NCAA Volleyball Championship will be held at CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, from April 13-24.

Sunday's match will be free for fans to attend, with a capacity limitation of 15 percent at Bramlage Coliseum. The match will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Fans can also listen free, live audio as Rob Voelker will call the match at K-StateSports.com/watch.

MATCH #20
K-STATE (12-7, 10-6 BIG 12) vs. WAYNE STATE (0-0, 0-0 NSIC)
Sunday, March 28 // 1 p.m. // Bramlage Coliseum // Manhattan, Kan.
Watch: Big 12 Now on ESPN+ // ESPN app
Listen: K-StateSports.com/watch
Live Stats

K-STATE AT A GLANCE

K-State hosts Division II Wayne State (Neb.) in its final home match of the 2020-21 season at Bramlage Coliseum.
The Wildcats upended 24th-ranked Creighton last Saturday in four sets, behind 26 kills from Aliyah Carter.
It marked K-State's first victory over a ranked team since 2018 and broke a streak of nine straight losses to ranked opponents.
As an offense, the Cats turned in a .392 hitting percentage - their highest efficiency mark since 2016 and the second-best mark in program history for a four-set match.
Carter was one kill away from her career high and just shy of her career-best hitting percentage, turning in a .449 clip against the Bluejays.
Her efforts garnered both Big 12 Offensively Player and Rookie of the Week honors.
Three other Wildcats hit .375 or higher, including middle blockers Megan Vernon (.500) and Kadye Fernholz (.438).
Jayden Nembhard added 11 kills and Holly Bonde chipped in nine kills.
Mackenzie Morris led K-State in digs for the 19th straight match, recording 17.
K-State held a 63-50 edge in total kills.
In the fall, the Wildcats earned a third-place finish in the Big 12 after going 10-6 during league play.
K-State reached a national ranking as high as No. 10 and was ranked for seven straight weeks to end the fall.
The Cats will play one more non-conference matches at No. 6 Baylor on Wednesday with hopes of qualifying for the 48-team NCAA Tournament.
K-State's 10 conference wins were most since the 2008 season (14) while earning its first top-three league finish since 2008.

SCOUTING WAYNE STATE

Wayne State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) saw its 2020 fall season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wildcats will play only exhibitions during the spring portion of their schedule, as they will play Iowa State March 26-27 before traveling to Manhattan.
In 2019, WSC went 24-7 (14-6 NSIC) and fell in the first round of the NSIC conference tournament.
Wayne State lost its top two kill producers, but do bring back Kelsie Cada who averaged 2.59 kills per set to go with 3.07 digs a set.
Setter Rachel Walker also returns, as the sophomore averaged 10.26 assists a set and 2.17 digs per set.
In 2019, Wayne State allowed opponents to hit just .141 against them.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Sunday's meeting will be the first between K-State and Wayne State.
It will be K-State's first match against a Division II program since it faced Regis University in 1992.

POSTSEASON HOPES

With a third-place finish in the competitive Big 12, K-State seeks a big into the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament.
The 48-team field, which is reduced from the traditional 64 teams, will include 30 automatic qualifiers and 18 at-large berths.
The field will be announced April 4 and will be played April 13-24 at Chi Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
K-State eyes its first postseason bid since the 2016, when the Cats hosted the first two rounds and reached the Round of 32.
Fritz has qualified for 12 NCAA Tournaments in her 20-year career (10-12 record).

GOING THE DISTANCE

In 2020-21, K-State has played 79 of a possible 95 sets, going the full five sets in nine of 19 matches.
The Cats are 6-3 in five-set matches after a five-set loss to Texas State on March 4.
The Wildcats are 4-0 in five-setters on the road and twice came back from 1-2 deficits.
The Cats have won four of their last five five-setters and played the full five sets at least once in all but two of the fall's two-match series.
K-State's six five-set wins are the highest single-season total since the 2014 season (6).
The Wildcats' record for five-set wins in a season is eight (2011).
Since 2017, K-State has played 32 five-set matches, going 15-16.

KILLER CARTER

True freshman Aliyah Carter continues her breakout freshman campaign, notching 26 against Creighton on Saturday.
Her 26-kill outing was the second 20-kill match of the spring season and fifth of the 2020-21 campaign.
Carter's 27 kills against Texas State on March 4 broke her own K-State freshman record, which she set against Texas on October 16 (26).
Carter now owns the top three single-match performances in program history by a freshman.
Carter's 27 kills are tied for third-most in the rally-scoring era in program history.
Carter earned back-to-back Big 12 Rookie of the Week awards (Oct. 37 and Nov. 3) and again earned two start Rookie of the Week Awards, being named on March 17 and March 24.
She was also tabbed Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on March 24, as she now has five weekly awards this season.
Carter has led K-State in kills in 12 of 19 matches, including four straight from Oct. 22-30.
At 4.03 kills per set, Carter ranks fourth overall in the Big 12 and second among league freshmen.

BY THE NUMBERS

In 12 victories this season, K-State is hitting .254 while limiting opponents to a .169 hitting percentage.
Conversely, the Wildcats hit just .197 in losses while opponents turn in a .268 efficiency.
When holding opponents under a .200 hitting percentage, K-State is 8-1 this season.
The Cats are 3-0 when hitting .300 or higher, including a season-high .392 efficiency in their four-set win over Creighton.

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Players Mentioned

Holly Bonde

Aliyah Carter

Kadye Fernholz

Mackenzie Morris

Jayden Nembhard

Megan Vernon

Kansas State University Athletics