By Chris Kutz, K-State Athletics Communications
Featuring 11 home matches and non-conference tournaments at Miami, Middle Tennessee and Creighton, the 2015 schedule for the K-State volleyball team was announced on Wednesday.
Coming off their third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years, the Wildcats open their season on August 28 with a two-day tournament at Miami before starting their home slate from September 4-5 with the K-State Invitational. The home tournament will feature the first three of K-State’s 11 home matches throughout the regular season, with opponents over the entire home schedule including Green Bay, California, UNLV and eight Big 12 Conference foes.
Following the K-State Invitational, the Wildcats will head to Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Omaha, Nebraska for tournaments at Middle Tennessee and Creighton, respectively. From September 11-12, K-State plays VCU, Seattle and Middle Tennessee while from September 18-20, the Wildcats take on Wisconsin, Arkansas and Creighton.
“Our preseason schedule is incredibly competitive with tournaments at Miami, Middle Tennessee and Creighton, as well as hosting our K-State Invitational tournament featuring both the University of California and UNLV,” said K-State head coach Suzie Fritz. “We will have some significant challenges during the first month of pre-season play that will undoubtedly prepare us for another challenging year in the Big 12.”
In total, K-State plays 20 different opponents over 28 matches. The 20 teams combined to go 363-250 (.592) in 2014, with eight schools reaching the NCAA Tournament. Three teams – Creighton, Illinois State and Wisconsin – won their respective conference regular season or postseason championship.
“Coach Jeff Grove does a tremendous job of helping put together a schedule that has a balance of competitive opportunities, as well as chances for competitive success,” said Fritz. “Scheduling can be very difficult, as your preseason wins and overall RPI have a large impact on your ability to earn an NCAA bid and achieve postseason success at the end of the year.
“Our goals from year to year remain consistent. We want to be in a position to compete with the best teams in the Big 12, and therefore, in the country, and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. Our preparation for success began 3-4 months ago, when we began spring training. Our team will continue to make a strong commitment to their development and improvement throughout the summer in an effort to put themselves in the best position possible when fall camp arrives in August.”
The Wildcats play six of their first nine Big 12 matches on the road before competing at home five times over the final four weeks of the regular season. After traveling to West Virginia for an October 28 match, the Wildcats will not compete in any road midweek competitions for the remainder of the season.
Following the Wildcats’ conference-opener at KU on Wednesday, September 23, K-State will host Baylor on September 26 for its first home Big 12 match of the season.
Throughout October, K-State will play five road matches, including at TCU (October 3), Iowa State (October 7), Oklahoma (October 17), Texas Tech (October 24) and West Virginia (October 28). In between the bulk of road trips, K-State plays at home on October 10 vs. West Virginia and October 21 against the defending Big 12 champion, Texas.
A Halloween matchup against TCU in Ahearn Field House will kick off a stretch of four-straight home matches for the Wildcats, with dates including November 7 vs. Texas Tech, November 11 vs. Oklahoma and November 18 vs. Iowa State.
After a match at Texas on November 21, the Wildcats will play their final home match of the regular season on November 25 vs. KU and then end the campaign on the road at Baylor on November 28.
Season tickets for the 11-match home schedule are on sale now, with tickets starting at less than $3 per match. Fans can purchase season tickets by visiting www.k-statesports.com/tickets, calling 1-800-221-CATS (2287) or stopping by the K-State Athletics Ticket Office in Bramlage Coliseum.
The on-sale date for single-match tickets and promotional schedule will be announced in August.
The Wildcats finished 2014 with 22 wins and a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the 15th time in program history. K-State returns nine letterwinners, including six athletes who played in at least 30 of the 31 matches a year ago.
K-State’s spring slate of scrimmages comes to an end this Saturday with a match against Nebraska at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska. First serve is at 6 p.m.
2015 K-State Volleyball Schedule
University of Miami Tournament
August 28
vs. Florida A&M
August 29
vs. Illinois State
at Miami
K-State Invitational
September 4
GREEN BAY
CAL
September 5
UNLV
Middle Tennessee Tournament
September 11
vs. VCU
September 12
vs. Seattle
September 12
at Middle Tennessee
Creighton Tournament
September 18
vs. Wisconsin
September 19
vs. Arkansas
September 20
at Creighton
September 23
at KU
September 26
BAYLOR
October 3
at TCU
October 7
at Iowa State
October 10
WEST VIRGINIA
October 17
at Oklahoma
October 21
TEXAS
October 24
at Texas Tech
October 28
at West Virginia
October 31
TCU
November 7
TEXAS TECH
November 11
OKLAHOMA
November 18
IOWA STATE
November 21
at Texas
November 25
KU
November 28
at Baylor
