Kansas State University Athletics
‘Being Here is Such a Blessing’
Sep 10, 2025 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Jordyn Williams and undefeated Kansas State are on a high. The Wildcats have shut out their first four opponents for the first time in school history, and Williams and her teammates have tangible results after a spring and summer in which the senior-laden squad built toward success.
The hard work and chemistry speak volumes as K-State strives to rebound from an up-and-down season in 2024 and aspires for big things this fall.
Williams, a 6-foot-2 redshirt senior middle blocker from Lantana, Texas, believes goals could be within reach in the third year under head coach Jason Mansfield, as the Wildcats look to continue their winning ways.
"Just win the Big 12 — that's been the program's goal for the past several years," Williams said. "It's been a while, but we're really excited, and we want to keep building the program to what we want it to be, and how we want to leave it.
"We want to bring home that trophy."
K-State started the season with wins over UMBC (3-0), Delaware (3-0), NC State (3-0) and Nevada (3-0).
K-State faces UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night and then faces Northern Colorado on Friday night in the Thunderdome Classic in Santa Barbara, California.
Then K-State travels to face North Carolina and East Carolina next Friday and Saturday in the UNC Tournament in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Then it's back home to open the Big 12 season against Arizona in Morgan Family Arena on September 26.
"We're playing at a really high level, and I'm excited to see what we do," Williams said. "The more we keep playing at this high level, great things will happen."
Great things are happening for Williams so far this season.
Currently, Williams ranks fourth in the country with a 0.524 hitting percentage.
That's big.
"I'm really thrilled," Williams said. "I owe a lot to (setter) Ava LeGrand, who's been dishing that ball. We've been connecting constantly, and it's really paying off. I'm excited to see us connect throughout the season and show how hard we're working."
Williams is also third on the K-State team with 25 kills and third with 2.08 kills per set. She is second on the team with 17 blocks and second with 1.42 blocks per set. She has totaled 36.5 points, which ranks third behind senior Shaylee Myers, who has 61.0 points, and senior Aniya Clinton, who has 52.5 points.
"We've had some great matches defensively," Williams said, "and I've been working really just being patient with blocking and working on ways to get better and to be physically one of the best blockers here. That's been my highlight this year, and I hope to continue that as well."
As a team, K-State ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 with 19.75 points per set, No. 2 with a .340 hitting percentage, No. 2 with 14.08 assists per set, No. 2 with 15.17 kills per set, and No. 2 with 3.12 blocks per set.
Statistically, K-State and Iowa State appear to be the two most consistent teams in the league.
"Our offense is really exciting and very well balanced," Williams said. "We've been moving the ball around really well, and everyone is getting their opportunities to really shine and put the ball away. It's great and exciting to see how balanced we are. It's going to be hard to stop this year."
Off to the best start of her college career, Williams could be difficult to stop as well.
The story starts back home. At age 8, she was in love with track. Her father coached her. She ran the 400 meters, the 4 x 100 meters and competed in the long jump. She was really good. She believed she was destined to run track.
Then came her friends. They were playing volleyball. So, she wanted to play volleyball with her friends. She began playing competitively when she was 12.
"At the time," she said, "I didn't think about how far it could take me."
At age 13, Williams played for club team Texas Advantage Volleyball. The team trained six months a year before dominating on the volleyball court. Eventually, she earned Under Armour First Team All-America recognition in 2020 and was a member of two national championship teams with Texas Advantage. She also had college volleyball coaches looking.
"Really it was just a blessing," she said. "I owe a lot of credit to Texas Advantage because they really put me out there, and they have a great relationship with a lot of college coaches."
Williams decided to take her talents to Kentucky.
"When I went to their camp, it felt like the best fit for me," she said. "I knew that's where I wanted to go. They made me feel like it was going to be my home."
But Williams spent two seasons at Kentucky and competed in just 46 sets over 17 matches.
She entered the transfer portal looking for a new opportunity.
"I went into the portal originally because I needed a change," Williams said. "I knew I wanted to grow as a player and wanted more out of my volleyball experience, which is why I came to K-State in the first place. I believe they were and are now giving me my best chance to compete at the highest level. I get to go out there and just play and it's something I've been waiting to do.
"I'm very grateful for Kentucky giving me that first chance and an opportunity to live out the dream, but I'm very thankful to be where I am now, and I'm grateful for our coaches for giving me an opportunity to be the player I was meant to be, and to just shine."
Williams appeared in 16 matches with 13 starts in her first season at K-State in 2024. In 46 sets, she finished with 60 kills and had a team-high .321 hitting percentage. She was third on the team with 44 blocks and had 42 digs, seven aces and eight assists.
This year? She ranks fourth in the nation in hitting percentage.
And that's big.
"Along with winning the Big 12, I'd like to give myself the best chance as a volleyball player after college," Williams said. "I want to do whatever I can do to accomplish as much as I can while in college. I've never gotten the chance to be up for anything from an all-conference standpoint. I'm just working really hard individually to not only be a great player, but a great teammate, and to be what this team needs me to be, so we can go win the Big 12 and do some great things.
"Being at Kansas State has been the perfect thing for me, and it's given me everything I've always wanted. Being here is such a blessing. I'm super excited for what these next few months hold."
Jordyn Williams and undefeated Kansas State are on a high. The Wildcats have shut out their first four opponents for the first time in school history, and Williams and her teammates have tangible results after a spring and summer in which the senior-laden squad built toward success.
The hard work and chemistry speak volumes as K-State strives to rebound from an up-and-down season in 2024 and aspires for big things this fall.
Williams, a 6-foot-2 redshirt senior middle blocker from Lantana, Texas, believes goals could be within reach in the third year under head coach Jason Mansfield, as the Wildcats look to continue their winning ways.
"Just win the Big 12 — that's been the program's goal for the past several years," Williams said. "It's been a while, but we're really excited, and we want to keep building the program to what we want it to be, and how we want to leave it.
"We want to bring home that trophy."
K-State started the season with wins over UMBC (3-0), Delaware (3-0), NC State (3-0) and Nevada (3-0).
K-State faces UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night and then faces Northern Colorado on Friday night in the Thunderdome Classic in Santa Barbara, California.
Then K-State travels to face North Carolina and East Carolina next Friday and Saturday in the UNC Tournament in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Then it's back home to open the Big 12 season against Arizona in Morgan Family Arena on September 26.
"We're playing at a really high level, and I'm excited to see what we do," Williams said. "The more we keep playing at this high level, great things will happen."
Great things are happening for Williams so far this season.
Currently, Williams ranks fourth in the country with a 0.524 hitting percentage.
That's big.
"I'm really thrilled," Williams said. "I owe a lot to (setter) Ava LeGrand, who's been dishing that ball. We've been connecting constantly, and it's really paying off. I'm excited to see us connect throughout the season and show how hard we're working."
Williams is also third on the K-State team with 25 kills and third with 2.08 kills per set. She is second on the team with 17 blocks and second with 1.42 blocks per set. She has totaled 36.5 points, which ranks third behind senior Shaylee Myers, who has 61.0 points, and senior Aniya Clinton, who has 52.5 points.
"We've had some great matches defensively," Williams said, "and I've been working really just being patient with blocking and working on ways to get better and to be physically one of the best blockers here. That's been my highlight this year, and I hope to continue that as well."
As a team, K-State ranks No. 1 in the Big 12 with 19.75 points per set, No. 2 with a .340 hitting percentage, No. 2 with 14.08 assists per set, No. 2 with 15.17 kills per set, and No. 2 with 3.12 blocks per set.
Statistically, K-State and Iowa State appear to be the two most consistent teams in the league.
"Our offense is really exciting and very well balanced," Williams said. "We've been moving the ball around really well, and everyone is getting their opportunities to really shine and put the ball away. It's great and exciting to see how balanced we are. It's going to be hard to stop this year."
Off to the best start of her college career, Williams could be difficult to stop as well.
The story starts back home. At age 8, she was in love with track. Her father coached her. She ran the 400 meters, the 4 x 100 meters and competed in the long jump. She was really good. She believed she was destined to run track.
Then came her friends. They were playing volleyball. So, she wanted to play volleyball with her friends. She began playing competitively when she was 12.
"At the time," she said, "I didn't think about how far it could take me."
At age 13, Williams played for club team Texas Advantage Volleyball. The team trained six months a year before dominating on the volleyball court. Eventually, she earned Under Armour First Team All-America recognition in 2020 and was a member of two national championship teams with Texas Advantage. She also had college volleyball coaches looking.
"Really it was just a blessing," she said. "I owe a lot of credit to Texas Advantage because they really put me out there, and they have a great relationship with a lot of college coaches."
Williams decided to take her talents to Kentucky.
"When I went to their camp, it felt like the best fit for me," she said. "I knew that's where I wanted to go. They made me feel like it was going to be my home."
But Williams spent two seasons at Kentucky and competed in just 46 sets over 17 matches.
She entered the transfer portal looking for a new opportunity.
"I went into the portal originally because I needed a change," Williams said. "I knew I wanted to grow as a player and wanted more out of my volleyball experience, which is why I came to K-State in the first place. I believe they were and are now giving me my best chance to compete at the highest level. I get to go out there and just play and it's something I've been waiting to do.
"I'm very grateful for Kentucky giving me that first chance and an opportunity to live out the dream, but I'm very thankful to be where I am now, and I'm grateful for our coaches for giving me an opportunity to be the player I was meant to be, and to just shine."
Williams appeared in 16 matches with 13 starts in her first season at K-State in 2024. In 46 sets, she finished with 60 kills and had a team-high .321 hitting percentage. She was third on the team with 44 blocks and had 42 digs, seven aces and eight assists.
This year? She ranks fourth in the nation in hitting percentage.
And that's big.
"Along with winning the Big 12, I'd like to give myself the best chance as a volleyball player after college," Williams said. "I want to do whatever I can do to accomplish as much as I can while in college. I've never gotten the chance to be up for anything from an all-conference standpoint. I'm just working really hard individually to not only be a great player, but a great teammate, and to be what this team needs me to be, so we can go win the Big 12 and do some great things.
"Being at Kansas State has been the perfect thing for me, and it's given me everything I've always wanted. Being here is such a blessing. I'm super excited for what these next few months hold."
Players Mentioned
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