MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Athletics) – Fueling K-State to the program’s first-ever sweep over a Top 10 opponent, Aliyah Carter was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week while Aniya Clinton was tabbed Big 12 Rookie of the Week, following the league’s announcement Tuesday. Clinton and Carter are the first Wildcats to receive weekly honors this season.
The outside hitters helped K-State to back-to-back straight-set wins over then-No. 8 BYU, marking the program’s third season with at least two top 10 wins (1999, 2003). With four victories over ranked Big 12 opponents this season, K-State now sits fifth overall in the league standings, trailing No. 4 Texas, UCF, No. 14 Kansas, and No. 12 BYU.
Carter, an All-Big 12 Preseason selection registered a team-high 35 kills (.238) for a Wildcat offense that hit .318 as a team against the Cougars. The Dubuque, Iowa product paced both squads in the series opener with 18 kills while adding 10 digs to the board for her 23rd career double-double.
The 2020 Big 12 Freshman of the Year’s points per set (6.25) and kills per set (5.83) led all Big 12 players during the week as she received her third Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week recognition and her eighth overall weekly honor, tying for the 12th most in league history.
This season, Carter has reached double figure kills in 16 matches as she continues to move up in the K-State record books. She ranks third in school history of the rally-scoring era with 1,283 kills while her 3.73 average is good for second.
A native of Midland, Texas, Clinton totaled 29 kills on 52 swings with just a single error for an incredible .538 hitting efficiency on the week. The redshirt-freshman ranked third among Conference players in hitting percentage, points per set (5.33) and kills per set (4.83) during Week 10.
In the initial match against the Cougars, Clinton registered an unbelievable .684 attack percentage (13 kills, 19 attempts) without committing a single error.Clinton has reached double figure kills in four of the Cats last six matches, totaling nine overall.
K-State (13-8, 7-5 Big 12) takes on No. 14 Kansas (18-5, 7-4 Big 12) in a two-match set beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Lawrence. The 2023 Dillons Sunflower Showdown will stream live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.
