K-State Previews Season at Annual Volleyball Media Day

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Third-year head coach Jason Mansfield, along with redshirt junior Aniya Clinton and seniors Brenna Schmidt, Ava LeGrand, Shaylee Myers and Jordyn Williams met with local media Monday afternoon at Morgan Family Arena to discuss the upcoming 2025 volleyball season.

The Wildcats will host a Purple & White scrimmage at Morgan Family Arena on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. CT, before traveling to Oklahoma for an exhibition match against the Sooners at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The regular season officially begins on Friday, August 29, against UMBC as the Wildcats host the annual K-State Invitational, marking the first time since 2022 that K-State will begin the season at home. Big 12 play kicks off on Friday, September 26, with a home match against Arizona, highlighting a nine-match home conference slate.

Single-match tickets are now available for the 2025 season by visiting KStateSports.com, calling 1-800-221-CATS or visiting the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.

The following are quotes from the session.

JASON MANSFIELD, K-STATE HEAD COACH
On looking forward to a new season…
"Thank you guys for coming. We're all really excited about the start of the season. The start of the season began back in January, and these five athletes have worked extremely hard over the last couple of years, particularly since January. Fall camp has been the best and most organized in my 25 years of coaching. Just a lot of really good intentions every day. It starts with good leadership, and the five seniors up here have led the way for the last week and a half. But we're excited to get started. It's going to be an exciting week, starting at home on Thursday, and then going to Norman on Saturday, and just very hopeful for the season, and excited to get started."

On what about K-State culture brings people coming back…
"I think it starts with just K State being a special place in Manhattan being a special place as well. I think the players that have come back and have been here their whole career, I think they enjoy being around each other and I think they feel how special Manhattan is and K State is as well. And then the arena, I think, is a special place when you play matches here and you're a part of that. It's something that I think they're all really excited to continue those memories that we've had so far, they're just a close group. I think they got closer this spring, which is great. And, you know, they're a team, and they've worked hard together. And I think they're focused on the same things, which is important."

On the upcoming freshmen playing with returners in the upcoming season …
"It's been good. I think all six of them love the game, and they want this program to be great. So I think hopefully the older players have felt that, and the returners have done a great job of helping them out every day. But they've acclimated nicely. It's tough being a freshman. I think all five of these athletes can say the same thing. It's tough being a freshman, no matter where you are, where you're from, and so we just have to try to help them the best that we can, understand how we're trying to play and try to get them to be themselves as quickly as possible. And I'd say all six of them are close to being themselves only a week and a half in."

JORDYN WILLIAMS, REDSHIRT SENIOR MIDDLE BLOCKER
On what she is looking forward to most in the upcoming season…
"Sorry, my answer is not gonna be much different, but just to go out there and compete with those girls, I'm just super grateful and appreciative of all of them. I think we've done a good job, just within the past year, to make it what we want this season, and go out with a bang for all of us."

On what she has worked on differently to make sure she is strong throughout the season…
"Yes, so I think that not just working super hard in the spring, trying to come in in the summer and work out with Danny (Cavender), and just train and coming in as much as I could. Just to put my body in the best shape and physical health and mentally prepare myself for the season. So just really trying to give it my all for my last year."

BRENNA SCHMIDT, SENIOR MIDDLE BLOCKER
On what she is looking forward to most in the upcoming season…
"I have a lot of fun just playing volleyball. That's why I'm here. And so, I'm really ready to have a good year and to play together with all these girls."

SHAYLEE MYERS, SENIOR OUTSIDE/OPPOSITE HITTER
On what she is looking forward to most in the upcoming season…
"I think we might all have the same answers. I think all of us kind of started this back when we came here, so I think we're just ready to put a bow on it and make it what we know it can be. I'm just so excited and ready to leave it all on the court with these girls, they feel like family to me. And I think it's just gonna be so exciting to kind of see it end, which is sad, but to get to do it together is so special."

ANIYA CLINTON, REDSHIRT JUNIOR OUTSIDE/OPPOSITE HITTER
On what an extra year of eligibility could bring…
"Yeah, I think right now I'm focusing on the season ahead. I think a lot has to do with my body and the way I feel after the season. But yeah, it's still kind of just up in the air. I don't know really what I'll do."

On how she tries to fill Aliyah Carter's shoes…
"I don't think about it in that sense of trying to fill someone else's shoes. I think I just come here every day and try to give it what I have and what I can do, and hope that that's enough. I don't know, it's kind of awkward, because we're really close friends. So I wouldn't say that I'm trying to fill shoes, but I just try my best to be Aniya. "

AVA LEGRAND, SENIOR SETTER
On what she is looking forward to most in the upcoming season…
"I would say the same. I think just like finishing strong as a senior, we've all been through this together, like even Jordyn (Williams) didn't come in with us, but it feels like she did. And so having this strong group of seniors, I'm really excited to finish strong with them."

On what she has worked on the most before the upcoming season…
"Yeah, as Jason mentioned, we kind of went to a faster offense, and I personally like that change. And so finding that connection with all the hitters has been a really fun experience. And then just leadership, trying to find my style of leadership and work with the rest of these girls. We want to lead this program better than we found it. And so that's kind of been my goal in that area."

On anyone in particular who looks like they might have a great season…
"I don't think anyone in particular, but I would say everyone has stepped up in their own way. And there's no specific answer on how to lead, but everyone has shown their true self, and it's helped everyone in the process. Whether it's leading by action or words or whatever type, everyone has gone their own way and been their true self, and I think that's helped everyone."

– 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.

Kansas State University Athletics

K-State Previews Season at Annual Volleyball Media Day

Players Mentioned

Aliyah Carter

Aniya Clinton

Ava LeGrand

Shaylee Myers

Brenna Schmidt

Jordyn Williams

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