Wildcats Clash with Sooners in Big 12 Road Action

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State volleyball heads to Norman, Okla., for a two-match series against Oklahoma starting Thursday with first serve slated for 6 p.m. at McCasland Field House.

Thursday's matchup features the first meeting between the Mansfield brothers as head coaches. First-year head coach Jason Mansfield will go head-to-head against his younger brother Aaron Mansfield, who is in his first season leading the Sooners' volleyball program.

With just 10 matches left of the regular season, the Wildcats (10-7, 4-4 Big 12) head into week nine ranked eighth in the Big 12 standings. OU (6-10, 0-7 Big 12) looks to snap an eight-match losing streak.

The Sooners lead the all-time series 59-38-1 and are 28-16 when playing at home.

The match can be seen on SoonerVision on ESPN+.

How to follow the Wildcats: Stay up to date on K-State volleyball online at www.kstatesports.com and on the team's social media channels on X (formally Twitter) and Instagram.

K-STATE AT A GLANCE

K-State and Oklahoma are set for a two-match series starting on Thursday, Oct. 19
The Wildcats are coming off a tough five-set loss against now ranked UCF
K-State is 10-7 overall and 4-4 in Big 12 action to rank eighth in the league standings.
OU (6-10, 0-7 Big 12) looks to break an eight-match losing streak this week
Thursday marks the first meeting between head coaches Jason and Aaron Mansfield with the brothers going head-to-head for the first time as head coaches.
Both matches are slated for a 6 p.m. start at McCasland Field House in Norman.
The Sooners lead the all-time series 59-38-1 and are 28-16 when playing at home.
The match can be seen on SoonerVision on ESPN+.
K-State is in its 50^th season of Wildcat Volleyball, posting an overall 903-716-12 record.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA

OU heads into week nine with an 6-10 overall record and 0-7 league record in their final season in the Big 12 before joining the SEC
The Sooners look to snap an eight-match losing streak, with their last victory coming on Sept. 15 against UCLA in Norman.
Aaron Mansfield, like his brother Jason Mansfield, is in his first season in the Big 12 and seventh season overall as a head coach after six seasons at Loyola Marymount.
Mansfield lead the lions to a 94-68 (.580) record with a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances.
As a team, the Sooners are hitting .244 averaging 13.44 kills per set
Alexis Shelton, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, was named to the 2022 All-Big 12 Rookie Team and ranks third in the league and 22^nd in the nation with 4.19 kills per set
Shelton is also third in the Big 12 in points per set (4.68) and fifth in total kills (247).
Setter Payton Chamberlain paces the Sooners offense with a league-high 10.71 assists per set
Callie Kemohah leads the back row as the OU's starting libero, collecting 3.25 digs per set while Lydia Burts helps the defense with 1.19 blocks per set.
Burts is a senior transfer from Liberty, who received First Team All-ASUN accolades last season.
OU returned eight players roster that finished 15-13 and 5-11 in Big 12 action, while the Sooners added four freshmen and three transfers to complete the 2023 roster

INSIDE THE SERIES

Oklahoma leads the series 59-38-1 since its start in 1975.
K-State is 16-28 in Norman after taking a five-set win in 2022
OU claimed the final meeting 3-1 in Manhattan
The Wildcats longest win streak against the Sooners was 14 between 1999-2005.

LAST TIME OUT

UCF won in five-sets, 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 16-25, 15-7
K-State tallied 18 service errors
Saturday's match saw 25 tie scores with 14 lead changes
The Cats hit .199 (52 kills, 23 errors)
Carter registered a season-best 22 kills (.348) followed by Myers with 10
Szulczewski (19) and Hinkle (18) combined for 37 of the Cats 48 assits
Three players had double figure digs led by Morris (16)
Bolding recorded six blocks
UCF tallied 49 kills with 27 errors to hit .154
Three Knights reached double figure kills led by Clark (14)
K-State moves to 4-4 in Big 12 action
On the road, the Cats are 6-3 overall and 2-2 in conference
K-State is 2-2 in five-set matches this season.
Cats are 9-2 when out-blocking a team.
Carter tallied her 15^th career 20-kill match, tying fifth all-time
UCF tied the series 2-2

ROAD WARRIORS

K-State is 6-3 when playing on the road this season and 3-3 when playing in true road games.
On the road, the Wildcats are hitting .274 while limiting opponents to a .158 attack percentage.
Morris has guided the defense with 4.17 digs per set while Bolding has totaled 53 blocks (1.56 per set) with a .459 hitting percentage.
Carter leads the offense with a 3.48 kills average and is hitting .248 a clip followed by Clinton at 2.50 (.273)
The Cats have served up 54 aces with Carter and Gregorski tallying 13 each followed closely by Bolding with 12
Setters Izzi Szulczewski and Loren Hinkle have paced the now 6-2 offense that generates 11.8 assists per set.
K-State is 232-286 all-time when playing on the road, excluding neutral games.

AROUND tHE BIG 12

UCF (16-2, 7-0 Big 12) and Texas (13-3, 8-0 Big 12) both remain undefeated in Big 12 action each with an eight match winning streak
BYU (16-3, 5-2 Big 12) ranks third overall followed by Iowa State (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) and TCU (12-7, 5-3 Big 12) rounding out the top five.
K-State moved to eighth in the overall standings following week eight action
Six programs from the Big 12 are ranked in the AVCA standings with No. 6 Texas, No. 9 BYU, No. 14 Kansas, No. 21 Baylor, No. 22 Houston, and No. 24 UCF while Iowa State is receiving votes.
Texas' Madisen Skinner repeated as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week while West Virginia's Camilla Covas (Defensive) and BYU's Mia Lee (Rookie) joined Skinner in capturing league honors for the eighth week of the season.

BIG 12 RANKS

As a team, K-State ranks in the top five in five offensive statistical categories, including second in opponent hitting percentage (.159).
The Cats are fourth in blocks per set (2.69) and rank fifth overall in aces per set (1.53), digs per set (15.00), and total blocks (166.5).
K-State's 2.69 blocks average is 18^th in the nation while the Cats are 20^th overall in opponent hitting percentage.

IT'S THE BREAKDOWN

As a team, K-State is hitting .215 while limiting opponents to a .159 hitting efficiency while averaging 12.45 kills per set.
The Cats have won the opening set in seven matches this season, going 8-0.
Conversely, K-State is 2-7 when dropping the first set
The Wildcats are 10-2 when leading in attack percentage and 9-1 when producing more kills than their opponents.
Additionally, the Cats are 8-1 when limiting opponents to hitting efficiency under .200. with a 5-0 record when holding teams to under .100
K-State is 9-2 when leading opponents in blocks and 8-2 when leading in digs
The Wildcats are 2-2 in the month of October, and 6-3 when playing on the road
Carter leads the Cats' offense with 224 total kills (3.67 per set) this season followed by Clinton at 2.46 kills per set
On defense, Morris leads the back row and is second in the Big 12 with 4.63 digs per set
Bolding is second in the conference with 1.48 blocks per set, ranking eighth overall in the nation.
Currently, the Big 12 ranks third in RPI (rating percentage index) with an average RPI of .6028 with six programs ranked the top 25 of the national polls and one receiving votes.
K-State ranks 78^th overall in RPI.

IT'S A PARTY

K-State is averaging the league's fourth-best 2.69 blocks per set which ranks 18^th among Division I.
The team's 166.5 total blocks is good for fifth overall in the Big 12.
K-State has reached double-figure blocks in 11 matches this season
The Wildcats collected a season-best 14.0 blocks in a sweep of UT Martin on Sept. 8.
Additionally, K-State is 9-2 when out-blocking opponents

DOUBLE-TROUBLE

Three Wildcats have recorded double-doubles this season led by Szulczewski and Carter with six followed Hinkle with two
Hinkle and Carter each produced a double-double in the Cats' five set thriller at UCF
A native of Beaverton, Ore., Szulczewski generated a team season-best 41 assists in her first double-double with the Wildcats in the season opener
Preseason All-Big 12 honoree Aliyah Carter brought her career total to 21 after with a season-best 22 kills and 11 digs
Carter is 14 double-doubles away from joining the Wildcats' Double-Double Club
Former Wildcat Kim Zschau holds the program's career double-double record with 69 across 457 sets during 1995-98.
Katie Brand (2013-16) holds the record in the rally-scoring era with 68

GRAND HINKLE

Loren Hinkle is shy of 1,000 career digs which would put her in the Cats' Double-Grand Club, becoming just the ninth player in history to reach 1,000 in two categories.
The senior from Shawnee, Kan., reached her 1,000^th assist in 2022.
With 1,292 assists, Hinkle is 26 digs away from reaching 1,000.

CRACKING THE TOP 10

Kadye Fernholz is just one block away from cracking the Cats' top 10 leaderboard in career blocks with 315.0 total. Sydney Bolding follows at 310.0.
Totaling 1,218 career kills, Carter ranks eighth overall and third in the rally-scoring era
The 2020 Big 12 Freshman of the Year has led the Wildcats offense in 13 matches this season, including a season-best 22 kills against UCF
Carter's current career average of 3.69 kills per set ranks third in K-State history during the rally-scoring era and fourth overall.
With 15 20-kill matches, Carter ties first in program history during the rally-scoring era alongside Kaitlynn Peiger (2010-13), and tying fifth overall.
The Dallas, Texas product is the fifth player to generate over 1,500 career digs at K-State, ranking fourth in the rally-scoring era at 1,552 and fifth overall.
Morris has produced five 20-dig matches this season with a season-best 30 to bring her career total to 25.
Morris' 25 20-dig matches ties second in program history.
Morris joined the 1,000-digs club last season versus Kansas on Sept. 24., 2022.
At 4.26 career digs per set, she is currently one of just two players in the rally-scoring era to average over 4.00 digs per set (Angie Lastra, 4.37).
Morris is just six service aces from joining the 100-aces club.

BEING BOLD

Senior middle blocker Sydney Bolding continues to be a threat at the net for the Wildcats as she ranks second in the league and eighth nationally with 1.48 blocks per set.
The Pickens, S.C., product's 2.77 points per set is third on the team behind Aliyah Carter (4.23) and Aniya Clinton (2.82).
Bolding earned her 300^th career block at K-State and is nine total blocks away from jumping into the Top 10 rally-scoring era leaderboard.
In just three years at K-State, she has compiled over 400 kills, 600 points, and 50 service aces.
She was named to the Lippy Invitational All-Tournament Team, her fourth all-tournament team selection and second of the season as she was also tabbed to the Rose city Showdown all-tournament team.

KILLER CARTER

Carter eclipsed the 20-kill plateau for the second time this season on Saturday against UCF
Aliyah Carter is the fastest player to each 1,000 kills as she became the 19^th player in program history to reach the milestone in the season opener at Portland State on Aug. 25, 2023.
Totaling 1,218 career kills, Carter ranks eighth overall and third in the rally-scoring era
The 2020 Big 12 Freshman of the Year has led the Wildcats offense in 13 matches this season, including a season-best 22 kills against UCF
Carter ranks in the top 10 of the Big 12 leaderboards in kills per set (3.67), total kills (224), points per set (4.23) and total points (258)
Carter's current career average of 3.69 kills per set ranks third in K-State history during the rally-scoring era and fourth overall.
She earned her 15^th career match with 20 or more kills against Baylor, tied first in program history during the rally-scoring era alongside Kaitlynn Peiger (2010-13), and tying fifth overall.
Additionally, she is just the second player in program history to earn back-to-back unanimous first-team accolades, joining Kaitlynn Pelger (2012-13).

MACK ATTACK

Senior libero Mackenzie Morris' second in the Big 12 in digs per set (4.63), and ranks 43^rd in Division I.
The Dallas, Texas product is the fifth player to generate over 1,500 career digs at K-State, ranking fourth in the rally-scoring era at 1,552 and fifth overall.
Morris has produced five 20-dig matches this season with a season-best 30 to bring her career total to 25.
Her 30 digs against TCU ties second in any match this season by any Big 12 player
Morris' 25 20-dig matches ties second in program history.
Morris joined the 1,000-digs club last season versus Kansas on Sept. 24., 2022.
At 4.26 career digs per set, she is currently one of just two players in the rally-scoring era to average over 4.00 digs per set (Angie Lastra, 4.37).
Morris is one of just five active players in the Big 12 with at least 1,500 career digs, 32^nd overall in Division I.

A NEW HOME

K-State officially unveiled the Morgan Family Arena on Sept. 1, 2023 in the Wildcats defeat over Omaha in front of capacity crowd of 3,044.
The new home of Wildcat volleyball has reached a capacity crowd three times in its first season
Wildcats are 4-4 (.500) when playing at home this season
Morgan Family Arena will host 13 regular season games in its inaugural season.
The arena has reached capacity three times this season
The all-volleyball inclusive arena is the third home of Wildcat volleyball joining the Bramlage Coliseum and Ahearn Field House
K-State is 408-212-5 all-time when playing at home

THE MANSFIELD ERA

Jason Mansfield is in his first season at the helm of the Kansas State volleyball program.
The Sunnyvale, Calif., native is 10-7 (.588) overall and 4-3 (.500) in Big 12 action in his first season as a head coach.
Mansfield became the second coach in K-state history to start his career 4-0, joining Jim Moore in 1994
Mansfield was appointed as the ninth head coach on Dec. 27, 2022.
Compiled over 480 victories as an assistant coach with stints at Stanford, Illinois, and Washington
The 2004 Stanford squad won the national championship, while the Cardinals advanced to the Final Four six times in 14 total NCAA Tournament appearances with Mansfield on staff.

UP NEXT

K-State returns to Morgan Family Arena for a two-match series with No. 9 BYU
The series opener is slated for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26
Thursday's match marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2011 with BYU leading the series 3-1
The conference series can be seen on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

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Players Mentioned

Sydney Bolding

Aliyah Carter

Aniya Clinton

Kadye Fernholz

Loren Hinkle

Mackenzie Morris

Izzi Szulczewski

Kansas State University Athletics