Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, September 6
Omaha, Neb.
4 p.m.
Kansas State University
1-3,0-0Big 12
1
vs
3
USC
3-1,0-0Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Kansas St.
21
25
25
22
1
Southern California
25
16
27
25
3
No. 20 USC Prevails in Four Sets over K-State
Sep 06, 2024 | Volleyball
OMAHA, Neb. – Aliyah Carter and Izzi Szulczewski each recorded double-doubles Friday evening, but K-State fell in four sets against No. 20 USC, 21-25, 25-16, 25-27, 22-25, in the Wildcats first match of the Creighton Classic at D.J. Sokol Arena.
Carter produced a team-leading 17 kills to go along with 13 digs for her 27th career double-double. Liz Gregorski was next with 11 kills followed by Meg Brown and Jordyn Williams with seven.
Szulczewski guided K-State (1-3) with 41 assists, leading the Cats to a .177 hitting percentage, while hitting .220 in the first. The senior added 13 digs for her second double-double of the season, while Ella Larkin led with 16 and Symone Sims finished with 13.
USC (3-1) had three players eclipse the 10-kill mark, led by 15 from London Wijay. Ally Batenhorst added 14 and Adonia Faumuina had 10.
The Trojans totaled 19.5 blocks in suppressing the K-State offense, as Favor Anyanwu led all players with nine and Batenhorst and Mia Tuaniga had seven. K-State managed 10 blocks, paced by Brenna Schmidt with four.
FROM THE CATS
Head Coach Jason Mansfield
Overall Statement…
"Hard fought match today vs. a talented USC team. We are playing better in lots of areas, but we have to find a way to make a couple more plays, especially in sets one and three where we had leads. Our defense behind the block continues to be a strength of ours, we just need to keep fighting and finding ways to keep improving, we have a tough match tomorrow with a short turnaround to get ready for Creighton."
SET-BY-SET
Set One – #20 USC 25, K-State 21
The Cats scored three consecutive points to open the initial set led by kills from Carter and Schmidt. K-State came out with a three-point lead, 19-16, until USC responded with a 7-0 spurt to put the set away.
USC out-hit the Cats .256-.220 in the opening set, led by a set-high seven from Wijay, who had a .429 efficiency. With six kills from Carter, K-State totaled 15 kills in the first set – marking the fourth time this season with 15 or more kills in a single set.
Set Two – K-State 25, #20 USC 16
Tied 14-14, K-State strung together an 8-1 run that was highlighted by service aces from Gregorski and Larkin, along with dominant swings by Szulczewski and Carter. With K-State leading 22-15, USC called its second and final timeout of the set, which was met with a 3-1 run to level the match.
The defense held USC to a .000 hitting efficiency with four blocks and 24 digs, including a solo stop by Carter. K-State hit .140 with five players contributing to the offense, led by three kills from Szulczewski and Williams.
Set Three – #20 USC 27, K-State 25
USC capitalized on an attack error that led to a 6-1 run but was answered with five points from K-State to tie the set 18-all. After back-and-forth action continued, as a kill from Gregorski marked the 11th tie in the set.
The Trojans compiled eight blocks to limit the Wildcats to a .140 hitting percentage. Carter and Gregorski combined for 10 of the Cats' 17 kills in the third set.
Set Four – #20 USC 25, K-State 22
K-State called for a timeout after USC quickly generated a 6-0 scoring run. Trailing 13-5, K-State scored three straight points bring the set back within five. A service ace by Williams cut the Trojans lead to three, 23-20, until a kill for Faumuina handed USC match point.
USC hit at a .343 clip and K-State hit .194 in the final set.
INSIDE THE BOX
K-State will conclude the Creighton Classic Saturday at 2 p.m., as the Cats take on the #11 BlueJays at D.J. Sokol Arena. The match can be seen on FloVolleyball.
Carter produced a team-leading 17 kills to go along with 13 digs for her 27th career double-double. Liz Gregorski was next with 11 kills followed by Meg Brown and Jordyn Williams with seven.
Szulczewski guided K-State (1-3) with 41 assists, leading the Cats to a .177 hitting percentage, while hitting .220 in the first. The senior added 13 digs for her second double-double of the season, while Ella Larkin led with 16 and Symone Sims finished with 13.
USC (3-1) had three players eclipse the 10-kill mark, led by 15 from London Wijay. Ally Batenhorst added 14 and Adonia Faumuina had 10.
The Trojans totaled 19.5 blocks in suppressing the K-State offense, as Favor Anyanwu led all players with nine and Batenhorst and Mia Tuaniga had seven. K-State managed 10 blocks, paced by Brenna Schmidt with four.
FROM THE CATS
Head Coach Jason Mansfield
Overall Statement…
"Hard fought match today vs. a talented USC team. We are playing better in lots of areas, but we have to find a way to make a couple more plays, especially in sets one and three where we had leads. Our defense behind the block continues to be a strength of ours, we just need to keep fighting and finding ways to keep improving, we have a tough match tomorrow with a short turnaround to get ready for Creighton."
SET-BY-SET
Set One – #20 USC 25, K-State 21
The Cats scored three consecutive points to open the initial set led by kills from Carter and Schmidt. K-State came out with a three-point lead, 19-16, until USC responded with a 7-0 spurt to put the set away.
USC out-hit the Cats .256-.220 in the opening set, led by a set-high seven from Wijay, who had a .429 efficiency. With six kills from Carter, K-State totaled 15 kills in the first set – marking the fourth time this season with 15 or more kills in a single set.
Set Two – K-State 25, #20 USC 16
Tied 14-14, K-State strung together an 8-1 run that was highlighted by service aces from Gregorski and Larkin, along with dominant swings by Szulczewski and Carter. With K-State leading 22-15, USC called its second and final timeout of the set, which was met with a 3-1 run to level the match.
The defense held USC to a .000 hitting efficiency with four blocks and 24 digs, including a solo stop by Carter. K-State hit .140 with five players contributing to the offense, led by three kills from Szulczewski and Williams.
Set Three – #20 USC 27, K-State 25
USC capitalized on an attack error that led to a 6-1 run but was answered with five points from K-State to tie the set 18-all. After back-and-forth action continued, as a kill from Gregorski marked the 11th tie in the set.
The Trojans compiled eight blocks to limit the Wildcats to a .140 hitting percentage. Carter and Gregorski combined for 10 of the Cats' 17 kills in the third set.
Set Four – #20 USC 25, K-State 22
K-State called for a timeout after USC quickly generated a 6-0 scoring run. Trailing 13-5, K-State scored three straight points bring the set back within five. A service ace by Williams cut the Trojans lead to three, 23-20, until a kill for Faumuina handed USC match point.
USC hit at a .343 clip and K-State hit .194 in the final set.
INSIDE THE BOX
- USC picked up a four-set win – 25-21, 16-25, 27-25, 25-22
- K-State posted a .177 attacking percentage and USC hit at a .209 clip.
- Carter had a match-high 17 kills followed by Gregorski with 11. Brown and Williams each added seven.
- Two players turned in double doubles: Carter (17 kills, 13 digs) and Szulczewski (41 assists, 13 digs).
- Schmidt led the defense with four blocks while Williams and Szulczewski added four.
- USC had 19.5 blocks as a team while the Wildcats picked up 10.0.
- Four Wildcats recorded double-digit digs: Larkin (16), Carter (13), Szulczewski (13), and Sims (13).
- Both squads had six service aces.
- USC leads the all-time series, 3-0, while Friday's match marks the second meeting between the two schools at a neutral site.
- K-State falls to 0-2 against ranked opponents this season.
- K-State has produced four sets this season with 15+ kills.
- The third set is the highest scoring set of the season.
- Carter's double-double marked her 27th career, while Szulczewski produced her 12th at K-State.
- K-State is 0-3 in four+ set matches this season.
- With her 17 kills, Carter has produced eight consecutive matches with 10 or more kills against Top 25 opponents.
K-State will conclude the Creighton Classic Saturday at 2 p.m., as the Cats take on the #11 BlueJays at D.J. Sokol Arena. The match can be seen on FloVolleyball.
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on the K-State Volleyball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on the K-State Volleyball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
KState
USC
Kills
56
55
Errors
27
21
Attempts
164
163
Hitting %
.177
.209
Points
72.0
80.5
Assists
50
52
Aces
6
6
Blocks
10
19.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballOH/L/DS
/ Volleyball
L/DS
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MB
/ Volleyball
L/DS
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/ VolleyballMB
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