Clinton Carries Optimism Into 2025
Jul 28, 2025 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Aniya Clinton is one of the last remaining Kansas State women's volleyball players who was recruited by one coaching staff, who played inside the historic Ahearn Fieldhouse, then who played for a new coaching staff at a new volleyball venue, Morgan Family Arena.
There have been some ups and downs in Clinton's three seasons, as there typically are along the paths of many fierce competitors, but the 6-foot-2 outside hitter prepares for her 2025 season eager to make it one to remember.
"This is a great opportunity for all of us to leave it all on the court," she said. "We've done a good job of staying on track and making sure the goal is the same all the time. We actually just had a meeting about our goals this season.
"We always talk about making the NCAA Tournament, but it's not just about making the tournament this year. It's about making a run in the tournament and going as far as we can.
"We have an even bigger goal this year."
K-State went 15-14 in Clinton's freshman season during the final season under then-head coach Suzie Fritz in 2022. Then K-State went 16-11 in Clinton's sophomore season under first-year head coach Jason Mansfield. Last season, the Wildcats went 10-17, marking the program's first losing record in five years.
But Clinton carries optimism into this campaign. She points out that every eligible player is returning from a year ago — nobody transferred to another school — and that the incoming freshman class is eager and talented.
Over the spring volleyball session, K-State showed ample improvement and success against Power 4 competition.
"We didn't know what we were going to be, especially going into the first spring match against Oklahoma," she said. "We didn't have any expectations because we didn't know. Then we won. And we kept going. And we beat Missouri and Arkansas. So, we've taken a lot of strides physically and mentally."
Clinton has made physical and mental strides as well.
Arguably the top high school player in west Texas, Clinton earned Outstanding Hitter awards out of Midland High School and grew under club volleyball coach Ping Cao, the 1984 Chinese Olympian while helping her squad to a third-place finish in the 2021 national tournament.
But Clinton, who communicated with several potential suitors in the Power 4, arrived at K-State with goals only to be humbled under Fritz. Clinton did not record a single statistic her freshman year in 2022.
"I had started every game to not doing that my freshman year," she said. "What could I do about it? Go get what you want. That helped me snap out of the pity party. Then Jason arrived and it gave me a fresh slate to prove myself.
"Coming to college, not even as an athlete, you figure out who you are, because it's you and no parents anymore," she added. "The biggest thing I learned about myself is it's OK not to be OK, but you have to give 100% of what you have. My freshman year, I had a really bad mental health, and that was a good turning point. I had to show up for myself every single day. I had to make sure I was healthy and that I could contribute to my team. If you're not healthy, it's not worth it."
Under Mansfield, Clinton proved herself emphatically in 2023 as she was named to the All-Big 12 Rookie Team and earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice, finishing a brilliant redshirt freshman campaign with 261 kills, 53 digs and 58 blocks for 294 points in 92 sets. Her first season on the court, she ranked second on the team with 2.84 kills per set and 3.20 points per set.
Then disaster struck. Clinton suffered torn left quadriceps during the offseason, setting her up for a personal battle physically and mentally to get back onto the court.
"I came in early in the days and did rehab, and never slowed down," she said. "In last season's early tournaments, I could barely jump and wondered what was actually wrong with me. The mental aspect of it was a lot. There were eyes on me entering last season to have success and it wasn't there, so that was hard. It was a lot of work.
"I still have problems with it to this day, but when you become an athlete, it's either you can go or you can't. I know what I can do and I want to make sure we were in position to win so I did what I could."
Last season, Clinton appeared in 23 matches and 81 sets, finishing third on the team with 187 kills and adding 46 digs and 25 blocks.
"In the beginning of the season, I played outside without much success, then I switched to right side in the middle of the season and just tried to find my groove," she said. "I was proud of my ability to bounce back and forth and score and do what I needed to do for my team."
Sitting inside Morgan Family Arena for an interview, she smiled as she looked around all the different walls and the court below.
"When I came here, I could never have imagined this," she said. "We were here for the building process and came in and signed some beams, and just walking around the facility with no walls up, I could never have imagined what this would be. This place is so beautiful and we're so lucky to have a space just for us."
Clinton maintains fond memories of beating BYU and No. 1-ranked Texas at Morgan Family Arena during her career, and yes, there have been disappointments along the way as well.
She looks to this upcoming season eager to flip the script after last year.
"A piece of last season has to stay with you for that chip on the shoulder for the next season," she said. "But at the same time, it's like, 'That's over with, let's look toward the future, let's see what we can do to win.'"
A healthy and hungry Clinton will help lead the Wildcats' charge.
Aniya Clinton is one of the last remaining Kansas State women's volleyball players who was recruited by one coaching staff, who played inside the historic Ahearn Fieldhouse, then who played for a new coaching staff at a new volleyball venue, Morgan Family Arena.
There have been some ups and downs in Clinton's three seasons, as there typically are along the paths of many fierce competitors, but the 6-foot-2 outside hitter prepares for her 2025 season eager to make it one to remember.
"This is a great opportunity for all of us to leave it all on the court," she said. "We've done a good job of staying on track and making sure the goal is the same all the time. We actually just had a meeting about our goals this season.
"We always talk about making the NCAA Tournament, but it's not just about making the tournament this year. It's about making a run in the tournament and going as far as we can.
"We have an even bigger goal this year."
K-State went 15-14 in Clinton's freshman season during the final season under then-head coach Suzie Fritz in 2022. Then K-State went 16-11 in Clinton's sophomore season under first-year head coach Jason Mansfield. Last season, the Wildcats went 10-17, marking the program's first losing record in five years.
But Clinton carries optimism into this campaign. She points out that every eligible player is returning from a year ago — nobody transferred to another school — and that the incoming freshman class is eager and talented.
Over the spring volleyball session, K-State showed ample improvement and success against Power 4 competition.
"We didn't know what we were going to be, especially going into the first spring match against Oklahoma," she said. "We didn't have any expectations because we didn't know. Then we won. And we kept going. And we beat Missouri and Arkansas. So, we've taken a lot of strides physically and mentally."
Clinton has made physical and mental strides as well.
Arguably the top high school player in west Texas, Clinton earned Outstanding Hitter awards out of Midland High School and grew under club volleyball coach Ping Cao, the 1984 Chinese Olympian while helping her squad to a third-place finish in the 2021 national tournament.
But Clinton, who communicated with several potential suitors in the Power 4, arrived at K-State with goals only to be humbled under Fritz. Clinton did not record a single statistic her freshman year in 2022.
"I had started every game to not doing that my freshman year," she said. "What could I do about it? Go get what you want. That helped me snap out of the pity party. Then Jason arrived and it gave me a fresh slate to prove myself.
"Coming to college, not even as an athlete, you figure out who you are, because it's you and no parents anymore," she added. "The biggest thing I learned about myself is it's OK not to be OK, but you have to give 100% of what you have. My freshman year, I had a really bad mental health, and that was a good turning point. I had to show up for myself every single day. I had to make sure I was healthy and that I could contribute to my team. If you're not healthy, it's not worth it."
Under Mansfield, Clinton proved herself emphatically in 2023 as she was named to the All-Big 12 Rookie Team and earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week twice, finishing a brilliant redshirt freshman campaign with 261 kills, 53 digs and 58 blocks for 294 points in 92 sets. Her first season on the court, she ranked second on the team with 2.84 kills per set and 3.20 points per set.
Then disaster struck. Clinton suffered torn left quadriceps during the offseason, setting her up for a personal battle physically and mentally to get back onto the court.
"I came in early in the days and did rehab, and never slowed down," she said. "In last season's early tournaments, I could barely jump and wondered what was actually wrong with me. The mental aspect of it was a lot. There were eyes on me entering last season to have success and it wasn't there, so that was hard. It was a lot of work.
"I still have problems with it to this day, but when you become an athlete, it's either you can go or you can't. I know what I can do and I want to make sure we were in position to win so I did what I could."
Last season, Clinton appeared in 23 matches and 81 sets, finishing third on the team with 187 kills and adding 46 digs and 25 blocks.
"In the beginning of the season, I played outside without much success, then I switched to right side in the middle of the season and just tried to find my groove," she said. "I was proud of my ability to bounce back and forth and score and do what I needed to do for my team."
Sitting inside Morgan Family Arena for an interview, she smiled as she looked around all the different walls and the court below.
"When I came here, I could never have imagined this," she said. "We were here for the building process and came in and signed some beams, and just walking around the facility with no walls up, I could never have imagined what this would be. This place is so beautiful and we're so lucky to have a space just for us."
Clinton maintains fond memories of beating BYU and No. 1-ranked Texas at Morgan Family Arena during her career, and yes, there have been disappointments along the way as well.
She looks to this upcoming season eager to flip the script after last year.
"A piece of last season has to stay with you for that chip on the shoulder for the next season," she said. "But at the same time, it's like, 'That's over with, let's look toward the future, let's see what we can do to win.'"
A healthy and hungry Clinton will help lead the Wildcats' charge.
Players Mentioned
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