MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State embarks on the second half of its Big 12 schedule with a pair of home matches against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bramlage Coliseum on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
K-State (12-7, 3-5 Big 12) has split its last three conference series after going 1-1 at TCU last week. The Wildcats picked up a four-set victory Friday, rebounding from a four-game setback Thursday.
In Friday’s win, Aliyah Carter turned in a season-high 23 kills and three aces. Carter added a double-double with 13 kills and 10 digs Thursday, helping her earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week accolades.
Like the Wildcats, Texas Tech (13-8, 3-5 Big 12) has also split its last three league series. Coming off a bye week, the Red Raiders split two contests at Oklahoma in their last trip on to the court. K-State claimed both meetings a season ago in Lubbock and looks to extend its three-match winning streak against TTU.
Wednesday night’s contest is Light Up Bramlage Night and fans are encouraged to wear 80’s theme clothes and neon colors. Fans can also enter to win an exclusive light-up volleyball autographed by the team.
Both matches are part of another Wildcat Weekend, with tickets available for as low as $3 with this weekend’s K-State football ticket against TCU.
Wednesday’s contest will air nationally on ESPNU while both contests will have radio coverage available on News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) and online at K-StateSports.com/watch.
MATCH #20
K-STATE (12-7, 3-5 BIG 12) vs. TEXAS TECH (13-8, 3-5 BIG 12)
Wednesday, October 27 // 7 p.m. // Bramlage Coliseum // Manhattan, Kan.
TV: ESPNU // ESPN app
Radio: News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Rob Voelker
Listen: K-StateSports.com/watch
Live Stats | Tickets
MATCH #21
K-STATE (12-7, 3-5 BIG 12) vs. TEXAS TECH (13-8, 3-5 BIG 12)
Thursday, October 28 // 6:30 p.m. // Bramlage Coliseum // Manhattan, Kan.
Watch: N/A
Radio: News Radio KMAN (93.3 FM, 1350 AM) // Rob Voelker
Listen: K-StateSports.com/watch
Live Stats | Tickets
K-STATE AT A GLANCE
- K-State return to Bramlage Coliseum for a midweek two-match set against Texas Tech Wednesday and Thursday.
- The Wildcats have split each of their last three conference series following their road series split with TCU last Thursday and Friday.
- K-State recovered from a four-game setback on Thursday with a four-set victory of its own Friday.
- In Friday’s victory, K-State hit over .300 (.301) for the third time this season, led by Aliyah Carter’s season-high 23 kills at a .327 efficiency.
- Carter, who added a double-double Thursday (13 kills, 10 digs), also served up a season-best three aces in the win.
- Carter’s efforts earned her Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, marking her seventh career weekly award (five rookie, two offensive).
- Setter Teana Adams-Kaonohi flirted with a triple-double Friday with her career-high seven kills to go with 40 assists and 10 digs.
- Six Wildcats registered at least six kills in Friday’s win, with eight coming from Haley Warner.
- Thursday, Kadye Fernholz spearheaded the Cats’ defense with her first double-digit block performance (10).
- K-State picked up a season-high 16 blocks over four sets on Thursday.
- Sydney Bolding totaled 12 blocks over the two matches, with her season-high output of seven coming Friday.
SCOUTING TEXAS TECH
- Texas Tech (13-8, 3-5 Big 12), who was off last weekend, has split each of its last three Big 12 series.
- TTU has gone 1-1 against No. 9 Baylor, Iowa State and Oklahoma over its last six matches.
- The Red Raiders offense is led by Kenna Sauer with her 3.56 kills per set.
- Samantha Sanders (2.63 kills/set) and Reagan Cooper (2.53 kills/set) rank second and third on the team, respectively.
- Sauer has twice been tabbed Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week while teammate KJ Adams has been named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week.
- Adams is second in the conference with a 4.50 digs per set average.
- The Red Raiders’ 14.76 digs per set rank third in the Big 12 while their 2.55 blocks a set are fourth-best.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- After a season series sweep last year, K-State leads the all-time series with Texas Tech, 40-14.
- Overall, the Wildcats have claimed the last three matchups.
- The Cats are 21-3 at home vs. TTU but have dropped the last two meetings in Manhattan (2018-19).
- K-State is 6-4 over the last 10 meetings and 8-2 in the last 10 matchups at home.
- Head coach Suzie Fritz is 32-8 in her 21-year career against the Red Raiders and 16-3 at home.
IT’S A PARTY
- K-State has reached double-digit blocks in 11 of 18 matches this year, including 10 or more blocks in four of its last five matches.
- The stretch of four consecutive matches with double-figure blocks was the Cats’ most since four straight 10-block matches in 2014.
- Thursday night at TCU, K-State totaled a season-best 16 team blocks with Kadye Fernholz notching a career-best 10.
- Fernholz became the second Wildcat this season to reach double-figure blocks, joining Kayley Hollywood (Sept. 18 at Omaha).
- Additionally, the Cats have out-blocked their opponents in 16 of 18 matches, going 12-4 in those contests.
- Fernholz upped her team-leading total to 78 blocks and 1.20 blocks per set, which ranks in the Big 12.
- Fernholz has registered at least three blocks in 13 of 16 matches in which she has appeared.
- Sydney Bolding produced her career-high block total in Friday’s victory at TCU, logging seven block assists.
- A Wildcat has reached at least five blocks in a match 28 times this season, led by Fernholz’s nine five-block outings.
RECORD PACE
- Aliyah Carter and Mackenzie Morris each needed just 32 career matches to reach their 500th career kill and dig, respectively.
- In a 3-1 victory over Omaha on Sept. 18, Carter notched career kill No. 500 while Morris picked up her 500th dig.
- Aliyah Carter equaled the program record as the fastest Wildcat to 500 career kills in the rally-scoring era (since 2001) while Morris was the second-fastest Cat to reach the milestone.
- Carter matched the record previously held by Natalya Korbkova, a junior transfer who played during the 2007-08 seasons.
- Carter is the fastest to reach the milestone beginning as a true freshman, as she was seven matches faster Kylee Zumach’s 39 contests.
- Morris only trailed Kersten Kober (2013-16) as the fastest to reach 500 career digs, as Kober needed 29 matches.
- Morris’ career average of 4.06 digs per set currently ranks second during the rally-scoring era while Carter’s 4.13 kills a set is tops.
KILLER CARTER
- Aliyah Carter is one of two players in the Big 12 averaging over 4.00 kills a set at 4.19, trailing only Baylor’s Yossiana Pressley (4.65).
- Four times Carter has eclipsed the 20-kill plateau, with a season-high 23 coming in K-State’s last match at TCU.
- Carter has hit over .320 in each of her 20-kill outings, including a .327 mark against the Horned Frogs.
- She now has 10 career matches with 20 or more kills, tying her for third in program history during the rally-scoring era.
- Entering the season with one double-double, Carter has produced 10 double-doubles in 19 matches to begin the season – with a career-high 20 digs coming against Fresno State (Sept. 11).
- She has carded eight double-doubles over her last 13 contests.
MACK ATTACK
- Mackenzie Morris, who has played every set in her career as the Wildcat libero, is fourth in the Big 12 with her 4.11 digs per set.
- She took home her first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award on Oct. 19 after leading the league with 5.68 digs per set over two matches against West Virginia.
- Morris led all players with 19 digs over four sets on Thursday before tallying 22 more in three sets against the Mountaineers Friday.
- Her 22 digs tied the third-highest total in a three-set match during the rally-scoring era in program history.
- Morris now has 10 career matches with 20 or more digs, moving her into fourth place in K-State history during the rally-scoring era.
- She has four 20-dig performances this season, with her 22 against WVU marking the second-highest total in a three-set match in the Big 12 this season.
- Morris served up four aces in back-to-back contests against UCSB and San Diego State, equaling her career high.
