By Chris Kutz, K-State Athletics Communications
K-State volleyball head coach Suzie Fritz announced Zsofia Gyimes, the 2014 Hungarian Junior Female Player of the Year, will join the Wildcats starting in the 2015 season.
Gyimes, who will arrive at K-State as a freshman, was recognized by the Hungarian Volleyball Federation as the country’s top junior female player after she played in the CEV U19 Volleyball European Championship. The 6-3 middle blocker led the team in points (3.2) and kills (2.6) per set throughout the tournament as she had 26 kills and a .512 hitting percentage over three matches.
“Zsofia is a versatile player with excellent speed and athleticism who fits into our system and style of play nicely,” said Fritz. “Combined with her level of international experience, we feel that she and [incoming freshman]Macy Flowers can help us fill a void initially at the middle blocker position left by the graduation of Natali Jones and Taylor Johnson. Going forward, we will look to see what else Zsofia is capable of doing, and may consider transitioning her into an outside hitter position as her career evolves.”
Gyimes also competed with Hungary in the 2013 CEV Youth Volleyball European Championship, where she led all attackers in hitting efficiency. For the tournament, she had 44 kills, a .639 hitting percentage, 13 blocks and seven aces in 16 sets.
In 2012 and 2014, Gyimes was named the most valuable player at the Bear Wool Volley International Junior Tournament held in Biella, Italy.
“We are excited about the versatility that Zsofia can bring to our team,” added Fritz. “She has a level of experience as a member of the Hungarian National Team that will be invaluable.”
Gyimes will become the fourth Hungarian to suit up for the Wildcats since 2003, a group that includes Vali Hejjas (2003-04), Rita Liliom (2004-08) and Lilla Porubek (2010-13). All three earned All-Big 12 honors during their time at K-State, with Hejjas being named an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2004 and Liliom an all-region honorable mention in 2008 as well. Each of three ranks in K-State’s top-10 for career kills during the rally-scoring era (since 2001).
“Zsofia comes to us as our fourth player from a long line of impactful Hungarians and comes highly recommended,” said Fritz.
The addition of Gyimes brings the Wildcat 2015 freshman class to four, which includes middle blocker Macy Flowers (Chanute, Kansas), middle blocker Kelsey Schroll (Manhattan, Kansas) and outside hitter Alyssa Schultejans (Silver Lake, Kansas). K-State will also feature nine returners from last year’s 22-win and NCAA Tournament-participating team.
The Wildcats start their season on August 28 with the Hurricane Invitational, hosted by the University of Miami. K-State will play Florida A&M, Illinois State and host Miami during the two-day tournament before opening up its 11-match home schedule with the Varney’s Invitational from September 4-5.
