SE: Sydney Bolding Brings Competitive Spirit to K-State Volleyball
Aug 25, 2021 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
The volleyball would bounce off her house, seven, eight, nine times.
Before she was old enough to join a team, seven-year-old Sydney Bolding would go outside and practice passing a volleyball to herself.
The goal was ten passes, without any drops, between Bolding and the wall of her house in South Carolina.
"I remember when I finally got ten in a row, I was so excited and I went in and yelled and told my parents about it," she said. "I remember I got them to come outside so I could show them."
Almost 15 years later, Bolding didn't have the chance to visit Kansas State before making the move from Jacksonville, so everything she learned about the Wildcats came on phone calls with the K-State Volleyball coaching staff.
And what she heard would have made 7-year-old Sydney smile.
"The volleyball team is just really competitive here," she said. "It was a really good culture and a great atmosphere. There's a lot of pride in K-State around the community."
Bolding checked off all these boxes in conversations with the K-State coaching staff.
But some things, the junior needed to experience for herself - for example, the leadership on the Wildcats this fall. K-State Volleyball has a professional and prepared attitude in 2021 despite a roster with just two seniors.
"That's one of the things that's special about this team," Bolding said. "There are a lot of freshman and sophomores, but there's also a lot of maturity."
It was a perfect fit for Bolding, whose play as a middle blocker has always outpaced her experience.
In her freshman season at Jacksonville, Bolding made the ASUN All-Freshman team with the highest hitting percentage in the conference (.392). As a sophomore, she led the conference in solo blocks (13) and finished second on the Dolphins in kills.
When Bolding decided to enter the transfer portal, her talent on the volleyball court was undeniable. K-State head coach Suzie Fritz was interested in even more than that.
"She basically asked me what I wanted out of the transfer process," Bolding said. "I explained that I wanted to play on a team with a really high level of competition, speed and just a higher level of volleyball. She told me that was exactly what this program is all about."
In other words, they take volleyball pretty seriously at K-State. And that's what Bolding was looking for.
"This is such a big college town, and everybody here is a K-State fan," she said. "There's just a lot of pride in K-State all over town and you see that everywhere."
Inside Bramlage Coliseum, Bolding said K-State fans will be surprised to discover how quickly the Wildcats have come together this season. Alongside a talented freshman class, the team added Bolding and opposite hitter Haley Warner (Florida) through the transfer portal.
After a four-set exhibition win over Kansas City on Saturday, the Wildcats head to Lincoln this weekend for the Husker Invitational and matchups with Colgate, Tulsa and No. 5 Nebraska.
The home opener, against Ohio on September 9, will be a chance for Wildcat fans to see the dedication that used to be between Bolding and the wall of her house back in South Carolina.
The newest member of K-State Volleyball is ready for the moment.
"It's one heartbeat when we play with each other," Bolding said. "A lot of great things are already starting to show."
The volleyball would bounce off her house, seven, eight, nine times.
Before she was old enough to join a team, seven-year-old Sydney Bolding would go outside and practice passing a volleyball to herself.
The goal was ten passes, without any drops, between Bolding and the wall of her house in South Carolina.
"I remember when I finally got ten in a row, I was so excited and I went in and yelled and told my parents about it," she said. "I remember I got them to come outside so I could show them."
"It was a really good culture and great atmosphere." 🤳
— K-State Volleyball (@KStateVB) August 10, 2021
Take a walk in the park as Jacque Smith introduces us to newcomer Sydney Bolding (@Sydney137_)#KStateVB pic.twitter.com/yEmenh1WLg
Almost 15 years later, Bolding didn't have the chance to visit Kansas State before making the move from Jacksonville, so everything she learned about the Wildcats came on phone calls with the K-State Volleyball coaching staff.
And what she heard would have made 7-year-old Sydney smile.
"The volleyball team is just really competitive here," she said. "It was a really good culture and a great atmosphere. There's a lot of pride in K-State around the community."
Bolding checked off all these boxes in conversations with the K-State coaching staff.
But some things, the junior needed to experience for herself - for example, the leadership on the Wildcats this fall. K-State Volleyball has a professional and prepared attitude in 2021 despite a roster with just two seniors.
"That's one of the things that's special about this team," Bolding said. "There are a lot of freshman and sophomores, but there's also a lot of maturity."
It was a perfect fit for Bolding, whose play as a middle blocker has always outpaced her experience.
In her freshman season at Jacksonville, Bolding made the ASUN All-Freshman team with the highest hitting percentage in the conference (.392). As a sophomore, she led the conference in solo blocks (13) and finished second on the Dolphins in kills.
When Bolding decided to enter the transfer portal, her talent on the volleyball court was undeniable. K-State head coach Suzie Fritz was interested in even more than that.
"She basically asked me what I wanted out of the transfer process," Bolding said. "I explained that I wanted to play on a team with a really high level of competition, speed and just a higher level of volleyball. She told me that was exactly what this program is all about."
In other words, they take volleyball pretty seriously at K-State. And that's what Bolding was looking for.
"She is just beginning to realize her potential as an athlete. Sydney has the capacity to improve our offensive production in a significant way."
— K-State Volleyball (@KStateVB) August 6, 2021
- #KStateVB head coach Suzie Fritz
More: https://t.co/zD1czfBb38 pic.twitter.com/pg4x4OdaLS
"This is such a big college town, and everybody here is a K-State fan," she said. "There's just a lot of pride in K-State all over town and you see that everywhere."
Inside Bramlage Coliseum, Bolding said K-State fans will be surprised to discover how quickly the Wildcats have come together this season. Alongside a talented freshman class, the team added Bolding and opposite hitter Haley Warner (Florida) through the transfer portal.
After a four-set exhibition win over Kansas City on Saturday, the Wildcats head to Lincoln this weekend for the Husker Invitational and matchups with Colgate, Tulsa and No. 5 Nebraska.
The home opener, against Ohio on September 9, will be a chance for Wildcat fans to see the dedication that used to be between Bolding and the wall of her house back in South Carolina.
The newest member of K-State Volleyball is ready for the moment.
"It's one heartbeat when we play with each other," Bolding said. "A lot of great things are already starting to show."
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