Kansas State University Athletics
Thursday, October 19
Norman, Okla.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
10-8,4-5Big 12
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Oklahoma
7-10,1-7Big 12
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Kansas St.
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Oklahoma
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K-State Edged in Five-Set Thriller by Oklahoma
Oct 19, 2023 | Volleyball
NORMAN, Okla. – Kansas State found itself reversed swept in Thursday's nightcap against Oklahoma at McCasland Field House. The Sooners fought their way back to force a fifth and final set (15-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 16-14) to claim their first Big 12 victory.
In the five-set thriller, OU (7-10, 1-7 Big 12) came out on top in each of the major statistical categories - points (80.5), kills (57), aces (9), blocks (14.5), digs (60) and assists (54). Taylor Preston paced all players with 20 kills while hitting .304 followed by Alexis Shelton with 19.
K-State (10-8, 4-5 Big 12) hit .125 with 43 kills and 26 errors led by Aliyah Carter. The senior outside hitter totaled 15 kills to go with 10 digs on her way to her 22nd career double-double and seventh of the season.
Aniya Clinton added nine kills at .238 a clip while Shaylee Myers and Sydney Bolding finished with seven a piece. Junior setter Izzi Szulczewski dished out a team-high 24 assists to go with seven digs.
The Wildcat defense produced 10.5 total team blocks and has now carded at least 10 blocks in five of the last six matches. Sydney Bolding recorded six blocks while Carter ended with four followed by Clinton and Brenna Schmidt with three.
Three players chipped in a pair of aces with Liz Gregorski, Loren Hinkle and Bolding.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
Head Coach Jason Mansfield
Overall Statement…
"Certainly a disappointing loss. I felt we played extremely well in the first few sets. However, their offense picked up pace in the last few sets, even though we started clicking in the third and fourth set, but struggled slowing them down. In the fifth set, I liked the way we battled back. We had match point and unfortunately didn't close it out. They executed a couple really nice plays at the end. Adjustments are going to be important for tomorrow. Their outside hitters played really well tonight, and we need to do a better job slowing them down."
Going against your brother…
"It was a special experience and one we'll remember forever. Of course our first match ended 16-14 in the fifth together facing each other, but I'm really proud of him. I know they've been itching for their first win in conference, and unfortunately, we gave it to him tonight."
SET-BY-SET
Set One – K-State 25, Oklahoma 15
K-State trailed just once as the Cats picked up the first set victory. Carter put down seven of the team's eight kills.
A pair of attack errors helped OU even the score at 12, but K-State strung together a 13-2 closing run to take the set.
OU hit .034 – its lowest output of any set, as K-State picked up four blocks and 11 digs. Bolding was responsible for three block assists while Morris added six digs.
Set Two – K-State 25, Oklahoma 19
The Wildcats trailed 6-2 before collecting a 7-3 run to even the score at 9-all.
With the set tied 15-15, K-State scored three straight to force a timeout from OU before the Cats put together a successful 5-1 run to seal the set victory.
The Cats recorded their best output with a .269 clip in the second with Myers and Bolding each addidnt three kills.
Set Three – Oklahoma 25, K-State 15
Momentum flipped in the third set as OU jumped to a 9-3 lead behind five straight serves from Sydney Thompson. The Sooners continued their fast pace as they used a 6-3 run, forcing a Wildcats' timeout. An attack error brought the Sooners lead to a double-digit lead, 22-12.
OU's defense had a .321-0.30 advantage in hitting percentage as the defense registered 3.5 team blocks to force seven errors.
Set Four – Oklahoma 25, K-State 20
After back-and-forth action, the Sooners tagged three straight points to the board to force a timeout from K-State. A pair of kills from Schmidt and Carter trimmed OU's lead to one, 19-18, but the Sooners put together a 6-2 closing run to force the fifth set.
OU turned in a match-high .364 hitting efficiency (14 kills, two errors), in the fourth behind four kills from Lydia Burts and Preston.
Set Five – Oklahoma 16, K-State 14
With the Cats at match-point in the final set, OU challenged a net-violation by the Wildcats and won to extend the match. A service ace by the Sooners' Sydney Thompson leveled the match at 14-all before back-to-back kills by Preston completed the reverse sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX
Match two between the Wildcats and Sooners is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at McCasland Field House.
In the five-set thriller, OU (7-10, 1-7 Big 12) came out on top in each of the major statistical categories - points (80.5), kills (57), aces (9), blocks (14.5), digs (60) and assists (54). Taylor Preston paced all players with 20 kills while hitting .304 followed by Alexis Shelton with 19.
K-State (10-8, 4-5 Big 12) hit .125 with 43 kills and 26 errors led by Aliyah Carter. The senior outside hitter totaled 15 kills to go with 10 digs on her way to her 22nd career double-double and seventh of the season.
Aniya Clinton added nine kills at .238 a clip while Shaylee Myers and Sydney Bolding finished with seven a piece. Junior setter Izzi Szulczewski dished out a team-high 24 assists to go with seven digs.
The Wildcat defense produced 10.5 total team blocks and has now carded at least 10 blocks in five of the last six matches. Sydney Bolding recorded six blocks while Carter ended with four followed by Clinton and Brenna Schmidt with three.
Three players chipped in a pair of aces with Liz Gregorski, Loren Hinkle and Bolding.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
Head Coach Jason Mansfield
Overall Statement…
"Certainly a disappointing loss. I felt we played extremely well in the first few sets. However, their offense picked up pace in the last few sets, even though we started clicking in the third and fourth set, but struggled slowing them down. In the fifth set, I liked the way we battled back. We had match point and unfortunately didn't close it out. They executed a couple really nice plays at the end. Adjustments are going to be important for tomorrow. Their outside hitters played really well tonight, and we need to do a better job slowing them down."
Going against your brother…
"It was a special experience and one we'll remember forever. Of course our first match ended 16-14 in the fifth together facing each other, but I'm really proud of him. I know they've been itching for their first win in conference, and unfortunately, we gave it to him tonight."
SET-BY-SET
Set One – K-State 25, Oklahoma 15
K-State trailed just once as the Cats picked up the first set victory. Carter put down seven of the team's eight kills.
A pair of attack errors helped OU even the score at 12, but K-State strung together a 13-2 closing run to take the set.
OU hit .034 – its lowest output of any set, as K-State picked up four blocks and 11 digs. Bolding was responsible for three block assists while Morris added six digs.
Set Two – K-State 25, Oklahoma 19
The Wildcats trailed 6-2 before collecting a 7-3 run to even the score at 9-all.
With the set tied 15-15, K-State scored three straight to force a timeout from OU before the Cats put together a successful 5-1 run to seal the set victory.
The Cats recorded their best output with a .269 clip in the second with Myers and Bolding each addidnt three kills.
Set Three – Oklahoma 25, K-State 15
Momentum flipped in the third set as OU jumped to a 9-3 lead behind five straight serves from Sydney Thompson. The Sooners continued their fast pace as they used a 6-3 run, forcing a Wildcats' timeout. An attack error brought the Sooners lead to a double-digit lead, 22-12.
OU's defense had a .321-0.30 advantage in hitting percentage as the defense registered 3.5 team blocks to force seven errors.
Set Four – Oklahoma 25, K-State 20
After back-and-forth action, the Sooners tagged three straight points to the board to force a timeout from K-State. A pair of kills from Schmidt and Carter trimmed OU's lead to one, 19-18, but the Sooners put together a 6-2 closing run to force the fifth set.
OU turned in a match-high .364 hitting efficiency (14 kills, two errors), in the fourth behind four kills from Lydia Burts and Preston.
Set Five – Oklahoma 16, K-State 14
With the Cats at match-point in the final set, OU challenged a net-violation by the Wildcats and won to extend the match. A service ace by the Sooners' Sydney Thompson leveled the match at 14-all before back-to-back kills by Preston completed the reverse sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX
- OU took the Big 12 five-set nightcap, 15-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 16-14
- Thursday's match saw 21 tie scores and seven lead changes.
- K-State hit .125 (43 kills, 26 errors)
- Carter turned in her seventh double-double of the season with 19 kills and 10 digs.
- Szulczewski totaled a team-high 24 assists.
- Morris registered 21 digs, her 24th career 20-dig match.
- The Sooners out-blocked the Cats, 14.5-10.5
- OU hit .195 (57 kills, 26 errors)
- Two Sooners produced double figure kills with Taylor Preston (20) and Alexis Shelton (19)
- OU leads the series 60-38-1 and 29-16 at home
- On the road, the Cats are 6-4 overall and 2-3 in conference
- K-State is 2-3 in five-set matches this season.
- Wildcats have recorded double figure blocks in five of the six matches
- Carter registered her 22nd career double-double
- K-State is 2-3 in the last five meetings in the series, including 2-2 in Norman.
- The Cats 8-3 against unranked teams who are not receiving votes.
Match two between the Wildcats and Sooners is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at McCasland Field House.
Team Stats
KState
OU
Kills
43
57
Errors
26
26
Attempts
136
159
Hitting %
.125
.195
Points
61.5
80.5
Assists
43
54
Aces
8
9
Blocks
10.5
14.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
6
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
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