From K-State Athletics
Following a pair of wins last week to extend its season-long winning streak to eight matches, K-State’s Kylee Zumach was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week while Gloria Mutiri was tabbed Big 12 Rookie of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
Zumach, who earns her second Offensive Player of the Week award of the season, led the Big 12 in both kills per set (4.86) and hitting percentage (.463) in the Wildcats’ 2-0 week. Friday vs. Green Bay, Zumach hit a career-high .513 as she turned in 20 kills without a single attacking error on 39 swings in the Cats’ four-set win.
Playing in her home state at the Gopher Fall Classic, the native of Buffalo, Minnesota, produced her first match with 20 or more kills since 2016 and the seventh of her career. Zumach added 10 digs for the first 20-10 match of her career and team-leading fifth double-double of the year. In the Cats’ straight-set win at UMKC last Tuesday, Zumach recorded 14 kills while hitting .393 and 10 digs.
Zumach collects the seventh weekly distinction of her career, as she was named Rookie of the Week five times in 2014 on her way to being named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and a freshman all-American.
Mutiri posted a .327 hitting efficiency for the week in wins over UMKC and Green Bay, averaging 3.00 kills per set and 3.00 digs per set. The freshman opposite registered a dozen kills in a sweep of the Kangaroos and totaled a career-best 14 digs against the Phoenix while tallying five total blocks.
The 6-foot-2 native of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, earns the first league honor of her career and she marks the fourth weekly award K-State has collected this season. Redshirt junior setter Sarah Dixon was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on September 3 while Zumach also earned the honor on August 27.
K-State (10-1) opens its conference slate as No. 5 Texas (5-3) visits Ahearn Field House Wednesday night at 6 p.m. The matchup will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU
