K-State Clashes with No. 21 Baylor, No. 13 Kansas in Manhattan
Nov 11, 2025 | Volleyball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State continues its four-match homestand this week, hosting a pair of Top-25 opponents. The Wildcats will take on No. 21 Baylor on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., followed by the second edition of the 2025 Dillons Sunflower Showdown against No. 13 Kansas on Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats (14-7, 7-6 Big 12), who are now receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, are coming off an undefeated week that included a sweep over No. 20 Colorado. With five matches left of the regular season, the Wildcats enter Week 12 with an RPI of 31 and rank eighth in the Big 12 standings.
Senior Shaylee Myers has been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, the conference announced Tuesday.
KU is tied for second in the league standings alongside Colorado with a 19-8 overall record and 10-3 mark in Big 12 play, while Baylor (14-8, 9-5 Big 12) sits fifth. The Jayhawks are 9-1 in their last 10 matches, with the Wildcats handing them their only loss in the stretch.
Both matches can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while live stat links can be found on the K-State volleyball schedule page HERE.
Following Saturday's Dillons Sunflower Showdown, K-State heads to Houston (8-15, 1-10 Big 12) on Wednesday, November 19.
MATCH #22
K-STATE (14-7, 7-6 BIG 12) vs. #21 BAYLOR (14-8, 9-5 BIG 12)
Wednesday, November 12 // 6:30 PM CT // Morgan Family Arena (Manhattan, KS)
Live Stats // ESPN+ // Tickets
MATCH #23
K-STATE (14-7, 7-6 BIG 12) vs. #13 KANSAS (19-8, 10-3 BIG 12)
Saturday, November 15 // 1 PM CT // Morgan Family Arena (Manhattan, KS)
Live Stats // ESPN+ // SOLD OUT
Promotion: Dillons Sunflower Showdown
FOLLOW THE CATS
A WEDNESDAY WIN WOULD…
K-STATE AT A GLANCE
SCOUTING #21 BAYLOR
INSIDE THE SERIES
Last 5 Matches
11/26/22: Baylor 3, Kansas State 0
10/5/23: Kansas State 3, Baylor 2
10/6/23: Baylor 1, Kansas State 3
11/13/24: Baylor 3, Kansas State 0
10/15/25: Baylor 3, Kansas State 1
SCOUTING #13 KANSAS
INSIDE THE SERIES
Last 5 Matches
11/3/23: Kansas 3, Kansas State 2
11/4/23: Kansas 3, Kansas State 0
10/17/24: Kansas 3, Kansas State 2
11/24/24: Kansas 3, Kansas State 1
10/24/25: Kansas State 3, Kansas 2
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
THE FINAL STRETCH
1K MILESTONE WATCH
LAST TIME OUT
STONE COLD KILLER
HOME SWEET HOME
VS. THE TOP 25
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
AROUND THE BIG 12
YEAR THREE OF THE MANSFIELD ERA
The Wildcats (14-7, 7-6 Big 12), who are now receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, are coming off an undefeated week that included a sweep over No. 20 Colorado. With five matches left of the regular season, the Wildcats enter Week 12 with an RPI of 31 and rank eighth in the Big 12 standings.
Senior Shaylee Myers has been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, the conference announced Tuesday.
KU is tied for second in the league standings alongside Colorado with a 19-8 overall record and 10-3 mark in Big 12 play, while Baylor (14-8, 9-5 Big 12) sits fifth. The Jayhawks are 9-1 in their last 10 matches, with the Wildcats handing them their only loss in the stretch.
Both matches can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while live stat links can be found on the K-State volleyball schedule page HERE.
Following Saturday's Dillons Sunflower Showdown, K-State heads to Houston (8-15, 1-10 Big 12) on Wednesday, November 19.
MATCH #22
K-STATE (14-7, 7-6 BIG 12) vs. #21 BAYLOR (14-8, 9-5 BIG 12)
Wednesday, November 12 // 6:30 PM CT // Morgan Family Arena (Manhattan, KS)
Live Stats // ESPN+ // Tickets
MATCH #23
K-STATE (14-7, 7-6 BIG 12) vs. #13 KANSAS (19-8, 10-3 BIG 12)
Saturday, November 15 // 1 PM CT // Morgan Family Arena (Manhattan, KS)
Live Stats // ESPN+ // SOLD OUT
Promotion: Dillons Sunflower Showdown
FOLLOW THE CATS
- Both matches will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
- Live stat links can be found on the K-State volleyball schedule page on kstatesports.com, while fans can find live game updates all season long on the Wildcats social media pages (@KStateVB).
- Single-match tickets for all home matches can be purchased by contacting the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS, visiting kstatesports.com/tickets or at the Morgan Family Arena ticket booth.
A WEDNESDAY WIN WOULD…
- Hand the Wildcats their second straight victory over a Top 25 team – fourth of the season.
- Mark the 10th win over a ranked opponent under head coach Jason Mansfield.
- Split the season series with Baylor and snap a three-match losing streak against the Bears.
K-STATE AT A GLANCE
- The Wildcats (14-7, 7-6 Big 12), who are now receiving votes in the latest AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll, are coming off an undefeated week that included a sweep over No. 20 Colorado.
- With five matches left of the regular season, the Wildcats (14-7, 7-6 Big 12) enter Week 12 with an RPI of 31 and rank eighth in the Big 12 standings.
- The Wildcats boast an impressive 11-1 record when winning the opening set.
- K-State's Shaylee Myers has been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season on Tuesday.
- She totaled 32 kills, 16 digs, three blocks, and an ace for 35.0 total points, ranking fourth in the Big 12 for kills per set (4.57), total kills, and points per set (5.00), while finishing fifth in total points for the week.
- Saturday will mark the Wildcats seventh match against a Top 25 opponent in a nine-match stretch. The cats are 3-4 against ranked opponents in 2025.
- Myers is 12th in the nation in kills per set (4.70) and 14th in points per set (5.16).
- In her first match back since Oct. 29 at Utah, Aniya Clinton registered a match-high 17 kills.
- Senior setter Ava LeGrand picked up her 11th double-double of the season against Cincinnati (Nov. 6) with 44 assists and 19 digs, while Myers earned her fourth with 21 kills and 10 digs.
SCOUTING #21 BAYLOR
- The No. 21 Bears (14-8, 9-5 Big 12) are coming off a pair of sweeps over West Virginia and Utah, while they aim to snap a four-match road losing streak. BU enters the week with an RPI of 22.
- Baylor posts a 13-2 mark when winning the opening set.
- Offensively, freshman outside hitter Ksenia Rakhmanchik paces the Bears with 239 total kills (3.06 per set), followed by senior Manuela Bibinbe with 213 kills (2.57 per set).
- Rakhmanchik was named the Big 12's Rookie of the Week on Tuesday afternoon- her second weekly award of the season.
- Defensively, libero Morgan Madison, who also garnered a Big 12 Rookie of the Week honor, anchors the back row with a team-best 294 digs (3.50 per set), while Gabrielle Essix leads with 98.0 blocks (1.21 per set), which is good for 10th in the conference.
- As a team, Baylor is hitting .239, while holding opponents to .204 efficiency.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Baylor has won 15 of the last 17 meetings to tie the all-time series, 30-30, after defeating the Wildcats in four in October.
- At home, K-State is 17-12 against Baylor, including 0-5 in the last five meetings in Manhattan.
- The Cats are 1-9 in the last ten matches against the Bears, with the lone win coming in the team's first meeting under Mansfield on October 5, 2023.
- The series start in 1993, as both schools were inaugural members of the Big 12 when it began in 1996.
Last 5 Matches
11/26/22: Baylor 3, Kansas State 0
10/5/23: Kansas State 3, Baylor 2
10/6/23: Baylor 1, Kansas State 3
11/13/24: Baylor 3, Kansas State 0
10/15/25: Baylor 3, Kansas State 1
SCOUTING #13 KANSAS
- The No. 13 Jayhawks (19-8, 10-3 Big 12), which are in its first season under head coach Matt Ulmer, look to expand on a four-match win streak Saturday, after sweeping Cincinnati last week.
- In 2013, Ulmer became youngest coach in volleyball history to win a national championship when he guided Long Beach State to a beach volleyball title.
- KU is tied for second in the conference standings alongside Colorado.
- As a team, KU leads the Big 12 in total blocks (266.0), kills (1,390), digs (1,495), and assists (1,293). The Jayhawks also are second in the league in opponent hitting percentage (.167), while their 266 blocks rank ninth in the nation.
- At the net, three players rank within the Top 10 in the conference in total blocks: Reese Ptacek (114), Aurora Papac (106) and Jovana Zelenovic (104).
- Libero Ryan White has anchored a back row with 411 total digs, averaging 3.95 digs/set, ranking fifth in the Big 12 in the category.
- Offensively, five players are averaging over two kills per set, led by senior Rhian Swanson with 3.10 kills/set, while freshman Jovana Zelenovic has tallied a team-high 309 total kills.
- Cristin Cline and Katie Dalton have each split time as the Jayhawks primary setter. Dalton most recently dished out a career-high 36 assists against Cincinnati.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- K-State leads the all-time series, 68-62-1, dating back to 1974.
- The Wildcats defeated KU in five-sets in the first edition of the 2025 Dillons Sunflower Showdown on October 24, snapping an eight-match losing streak to the Jayhawks.
- KU has won the last eight in the series overall, going back to 2020, and has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 in the last five matchups.
- The Cats are 30-23 at home in the series but have dropped four of the last matches in Manhattan.
- K-State last won at home on October 23, 2019 in five sets.
Last 5 Matches
11/3/23: Kansas 3, Kansas State 2
11/4/23: Kansas 3, Kansas State 0
10/17/24: Kansas 3, Kansas State 2
11/24/24: Kansas 3, Kansas State 1
10/24/25: Kansas State 3, Kansas 2
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- K-State's Shaylee Myers has been named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season, following the Wildcats' undefeated week that featured a sweep of No. 20 Colorado, the conference announced Tuesday.
- In the Cats' four-set win over Cincinnati, Myers joined elite company as the 28th player in program history – and the 14th in the rally-scoring era – to eclipse 1,000 career points.
- The senior from Lincoln, Nebraska closed out the match with 21 kills and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the season.
- On the week, Myers totaled 32 kills, 16 digs, three blocks, and an ace for 35.0 total points. She ranked fourth in the Big 12 for kills per set (4.57), total kills, and points per set (5.00), while finishing fifth in total points for the week.
THE FINAL STRETCH
- Wednesday's match marks the first of the final five matches of the regular season, including three held at Morgan Family Arena.
- Three of the Wildcats last five matches are against nationally ranked opponents – No. 21 Baylor (Nov. 12), No. 13 KU (Nov. 15) and No. 25 Iowa State (Nov. 29).
- Three matches are against teams previously played earlier this season.
1K MILESTONE WATCH
- Myers is 93 kills short of her 1,000th career kill. She would be the 20th player in school history to reach 1,000 career kills, and only second player to do so in the last seven years.
LAST TIME OUT
- K-State swept past #20 Colorado Saturday afternoon – 25-20, 26-24, 25-18 – at Morgan Family Arena.
- The Cats hit .324 (48 kills, 15 errors, 102 swings) compared to Colorado's .172 (31 kills, 15 errors, 93 attempts).
- Two Wildcats tallied double-digit kills with Clinton leading all players with 17 and Myers adding 11.
- LeGrand dished out 39 assists to go with nine digs and four blocks, along with a match-high two service aces.
- Defensively, K-State out-blocked CU, 9.0-4.0, with six from Williams (1 solo, 5 assists) while Sims totaled 12 digs.
- Burilovic recorded 10 kills for the Buffs and Sydney Jordan had nine.
- In total, the match had 17 tied scores with six just six lead changes.
STONE COLD KILLER
- True freshman Avery Stones, a native of Queen Creek, Arizona, turned in a breakout performance in K-State's four-set victory over Cincinnati, helping the Wildcats complete a perfect 2-0 week.
- In her first collegiate start, Stones delivered a standout showing with 17 kills and nine digs, becoming the first Wildcat to register a 10-kill match in her debut season since 2023.
- She capped her impressive outing with a block and a service ace, finishing second on the team with 19.5 points.
HOME SWEET HOME
- With a pair of wins last week, K-State improved to 7-3 at home in 2025, that started with a perfect 4-0 after their home-opening tournaments against UMBC, Delaware, NC State and Nevada.
- Head coach Jason Mansfield is 21-15 (.583) overall at home in his three-year K-State career, that includes 14-10 (.583) mark at home in Big 12 play.
VS. THE TOP 25
- K-State is 3-4 against teams ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll with victories over then-No. 25 North Carolina, -No. 14 KU, and -No. 20 Colorado, while they are 1-2 against teams receiving votes.
- Myers is averaging an impressive 4.07 kills per set against ranked teams followed by Clinton (3.67). Defensively, Sims tallies 4.37 digs per set while Williams leads at the net with 1.07 blocks per set (29 total blocks).
- The Wildcats improve to 3-4 when playing vs. Top 25 teams this season and boast an overall mark of 9-16 in the Mansfield era.
- K-State has recorded sixth sweeps over ranked opponents under Mansfield.
- In 2023, K-State set a program record for Top 25 wins in a single season, that included 12 consecutive set wins with sweeps over #8 BYU (twice) and #3 Texas.
- K-State was last ranked in 2020.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- The Wildcats are undefeated when leading in kills (14-0) and attack percentage (11-0), and are 12-0 when hitting above .200 with five victories hitting north of .300.
- Additionally, the Cats are 9-1 when they have limited their opponents to a hitting efficiency under .200. In four of those wins, opponents hit under .100.
- Conversely, K-State is 5-6 when opponents post a team efficiency above .200.
- The Wildcats boast an impressive 11-1 record when winning the opening set.
- K-State has out-blocked opponents in 10 matches (8-2), totaling a season-high 11.0 at KU (Oct. 24).
- This season, the Wildcats have recorded a season-high 93 digs against the Jayhawks (Oct. 24), posting an 11-1 record when leading in digs.
- K-State finished 5-4 in the month of October.
AROUND THE BIG 12
- Arizona State (20-3, 11-1 Big 12) jumped ahead of the league standings after Colorado (20-5, 10-3) dropped two matches last week.
- Seven schools rank in the latest AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll – No. 8 Arizona State, No. 13 Kansas, No. 16 TCU, No. 21 Baylor, No. 22 Colorado, No. 23 BYU, and No. 25 Iowa State.
- Kansas State's Shaylee Myers (offensive), UCF's Alexa Haley (defensive) and Baylor's Ksenia Rakhmanchik (rookie) were named the Big 12 Volleyball Players of the Week for matches ending Nov. 9.
- In the RPI race, the Big 12 has nine teams within the Top 50 of the RPI rankings, including seven in the Top 25.
YEAR THREE OF THE MANSFIELD ERA
- Jason Mansfield, who was appointed as the ninth head coach on Dec. 27, 2022, enters his third season at the helm of the Kansas State volleyball program.
- In year one, K-State achieved a record-breaking five top-25 wins with victories over No. 3 Texas, No. 8 BYU (twice), No. 18 Baylor, and No. 25 Iowa State.
- K-State handed Texas – the 2022 and 2023 NCAA National Champion – its only loss in conference play in its final season in the Big 12.
- Overall, K-State boasts a 9-16 (.360) mark against Top 25 opponents under Mansfield.
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