MANHATTAN, Kan. – With the 2021 season officially getting underway next week, K-State and Kansas City will tune up in the preseason’s lone exhibition match Saturday at 3 p.m. at Bramlage Coliseum.
K-State, who is receiving votes in the season’s initial AVCA Coaches Poll, is coming off a season in which it finished third in the Big 12, going 10-6 during the fall conference slate. It marked the Wildcats’ best league finish since the 2008 season.
The team retains their leaders in kills (Aliyah Carter), blocks (Kadye Fernholz), digs and aces (Mackenzie Morris). In total, 10 letterwinners return from last season while adding three freshmen a pair of transfers.
Carter became just the second player in program history to be named Big 12 Freshman of the Year, as she shattered the single-season freshman records in both kills per set (4.11) and points per set (4.47).
Joining Carter, Fernholz and Morris on the 2021 squad are starters Teana Adams-Kaonohi, Holly Bonde and Jayden Nembhard, a Big 12 All-Rookie Team pick. The Cats welcome transfer middle blocker Sydney Bolding (Jacksonville) and opposite Haley Warner (Florida) in addition to freshmen Josie Halbleib, Molly Ramsey and Jaden Ravnsborg.
Kansas City went 13-4 (13-3 Summit League) last season and earned a second-place finish in the league standings. The Roos bring back AVCA All-America Honorable Mention selection Melanie Brecka, who averaged 4.17 kills a set from the right side.
General admission tickets are available for Saturday’s exhibition match online at K-StateSports.com/Tickets or by phone at 1-800-221-CATS. Tickets start at just $5 when purchased in advance or $8 for adults and $5 for youth/military/seniors at the gate.
General admission season tickets are still available for just $40. A Wildcat 4-Pack is the best value at only $120 – a savings of up to $10 per pass and less than $4 per match. Single-match tickets and promotional information will be announced at a later date.
In accordance with University policy, it is required that face coverings be worn at all times inside Bramlage Coliseum, regardless of vaccination status, unless actively eating or drinking. Click here to view all the 2021 K-State volleyball gameday policies.
K-State officially begins its 2021 campaign on Friday, August 27 at the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Cats’ home opener is set for Thursday, September 9 against Ohio, kicking off the annual K-State Invitational.
EXHIBITION #1
K-STATE (0-0, 0-0 BIG 12) vs. KANSAS CITY (0-0, 0-0 SUMMIT LEAGUE)
Saturday, August 21 // 3 p.m. // Bramlage Coliseum // Manhattan, Kan.
Tickets | Live Stats
K-STATE AT A GLANCE
- K-State finished the 2020 season with a 13-8 record (10-6 Big 12) and earned its highest conference finish since the 2008 season (third).
- K-State is receiving votes in the season’s initial AVCA Coaches Poll while it was picked third in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll, its highest preseason projection since the 2012 season.
- The Wildcats retain 10 letterwinners from last season’s squad while adding three freshmen and two transfers.
- Last season, a true freshman led the Cats in kills, points, digs, blocks and aces.
- Aliyah Carter was tabbed 2020 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and shattered the program’s freshman records in both kills per set (4.11) and points per set (4.47).
- Carter and fellow outside hitter Jayden Nembhard combined to take home seven Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors, while both were All-Big 12 Rookie Team selections.
- Libero Mackenzie Morris paced the back row with 342 digs (4.02 per set) and led the team in digs in all 21 matches last season.
- Morris added a team-leading 28 service aces and Kadye Fernholz turned in a team-high 68 total blocks.
- While playing just 21 matches last season, the Cats played went 6-3 in five-set matches and equaled their most five-set victories since the 2014 season.
SCOUTING KANSAS CITY
- The Roos ended the 2020 season with a 13-4 record (13-3 Summit League), playing all their matches in the spring portion of the season and earned a second-place finish in The Summit League.
- Kansas City returns 11 letterwinners from last season and welcome in three newcomers, including Lipscomb transfer Bree Thompson.
- Right-side hitter Melanie Brecka returns for her senior season after collecting AVCA All-America Honorable Mention accolades last season, becoming just the second Roos player to be named an All-American.
- Brecka produced 4.17 kills per set while hitting .243, as her kills-per-set average ranked fifth best in Kansas City history and second-best in the rally-scoring era (since 2001).
- She led the Roos in kills in all 17 of their matches and eclipsed the 20-kill plateau seven times, including a career-best 26 in The Summit League semifinals against South Dakota,
- Maddie Renn, the team leader with 308 digs (4.40 per set), also returns for senior season.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- K-State owns a 32-3 lead in the all-time series with Kansas City.
- The Wildcats have won the last 30 meetings in the series, last defeating the Roos in 2018 in straight sets.
- Head coach Suzie Fritz is 6-0 in her career against Kansas City.
- At home, the Cats are 19-0 against Kansas City.
LOOKING AHEAD
- K-State officially begins the 2021 season on Friday, August 27 at the Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska.
- The Wildcats will square off with Colgate and Tulsa on Friday before closing the two-day event with the fifth-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday.
- It will mark the first-ever meeting between K-State and Colgate while the Wildcats lead the series with Tulsa, 25-2.
- The Cats are 4-81 against former conference foe Nebraska, including a 3-34 record on the road.
- After a trip west to UC Santa Barbara for the Gaucho Invitational, the Wildcats will open their home slate on Thursday, September 9 against Ohio to begin the K-State Invitational.
- The three-day tournament will see the Cats take on Ohio, Loyola Chicago and Fresno State.
- K-State begins its Big 12 schedule on Friday, September 24 against Baylor.
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