Wildcats Host Arizona, #8 Arizona State to Open Big 12 Play

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Winning seven of its eight non-conference matches, Ok-State opens its 30^th season of Big 12 play Friday at 6:30 p.m. CT towards Arizona at Morgan Family Arena, earlier than returning Sunday to host No. 8 Arizona State at 2 p.m.

The Wildcats, driving a three-match profitable streak, are off to their finest begin below head coach Jason Mansfield. Senior Shaylee Myers earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors following her standout efficiency in North Carolina.

Arizona (6-4) and defending Big 12 champion Arizona State (9-2) will every make their first-ever journey to Manhattan. Both matches will air on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.

MATCH #9

Ok-STATE (7-1, 0-0 BIG 12) vs. ARIZONA (6-4, 0-0 BIG 12)
Friday, September 26 // 6:30 PM CT // Morgan Family Arena (Manhattan, Kansas)
Promotions: Pancake Day
Live Stats // ESPN+ // Tickets

MATCH #10

Ok-STATE (7-1, 0-0 BIG 12) vs. #8 ARIZONA STATE (9-2, 0-0 BIG 12)
Sunday, September 28 // 2 PM CT // Morgan Family Arena (Manhattan, Kansas)
Promotions: Varsity Willie Day
Live Stats // ESPN+ // Tickets

FOLLOW THE CATS

• Both Big 12 matchups will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
• Brian Smoller might be joined on Friday’s broadcast by former Wildcat and All-Big 12 choice Kelsey Stringer (previously Kelsey Chipman), whereas Liz Wegner-Busch might be on name for Sunday’s match towards the Sun Devils.
• Live stat hyperlinks will be discovered on the Ok-State volleyball schedule web page on kstatesports.com, whereas followers can discover dwell recreation updates all season lengthy on the Wildcats social media pages (@OkStateVB).
• Single-match tickets will be bought by contacting the Ok-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS, visiting kstatesports.com/tickets or on the Morgan Family Arena ticket sales space.

 A FRIDAY WIN WOULD…

• Be the primary Big 12 opening win below Mansfield, and program’s first since 2019 (Sept. 28, 2019, at TCU).
• Mark Ok-State’s third straight win over Arizona.
• Extend the Wildcats residence profitable streak to 5.

 Ok-STATE AT A GLANCE

• Ok-State ended the non-conference portion of its schedule 7-1, having gained its final three matches. The Cats’ 7-1 total document marks one of the best begin within the Mansfield period.
• After a career-best 27 kills in Ok-State’s five-set victory over ranked North Carolina, senior outdoors hitter and reverse Shaylee Myers was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week.
• Ok-State enters convention play with the fourth-best total document within the Big 12 with a .875 profitable share.
• Myers has recorded 15 or extra kills in 5 consecutive matches, as she reached double figures in kills for the seven of eight matches this season.
• Against East Carolina, redshirt junior Aniya Clinton eclipsed the 20-kill mark for the primary time this season – second of her profession.
• Senior Ava LeGrand leads the Wildcats with 5 profession double-doubles after incomes her second towards ECU. The setter dished out a career-high 49 assists and career-best 22 digs to guide Ok-State to its third consecutive win.
• Under Mansfield, the Wildcats are 7-13 towards groups ranked within the AVCA Top 25 ballot, together with a program-record 5 Top 25 wins in 2023.
• The Cats 283-245 all-time in Big 12play, together with an 18-18 document below Mansfield, whereas this system boasts an total convention document of 336-380.

 SCOUTING ARIZONA

• After beginning the season 6-0 and setting this system’s longest win streak at 17 video games relationship from Nov. 8, 2024 – Sept. 6, 2025, the Wildcats have dropped 4 straight.
• Ariona has gained simply three units in its final 4 outings, together with falling in 5 towards San Diego on the Husky Invitational in Seattle.
• Senior outdoors hitter Jordan Wilson has been a key participant in Arizona’s offense and is main the Cats with 163 kills and 4.53 kills/set following week 4.
• In the Big 12, Wilson ranks third within the convention with 4.53 kills/set, fourth with 5.14 factors/set, and fifth with 185 complete factors scored.
• Outside hitter Carlie Cisneros is second on the staff with 114 kills and three.17 kills/set.
• Arizona was picked to complete seventh within the convention within the Big 12 Preseason Poll.
• The Wildcats obtained votes in AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll for the primary time since 2019.

 INSIDE THE SERIES

• Arizona leads the all-time collection 3-2, relationship again to the primary assembly in 1977.
• In their final assembly, the Wildcats defeated Arizona in straight units at McKale Center – 28-26, 25-17, 25-18 – the primary match towards UA in Tucson.
• Friday’s matchup marks the primary assembly in Manhattan between the 2 squads.

 
Last 5 Matches
12/8/77 – Arizona 2, Kansas State 0
9/11/87 – Arizona 3, Kansas State 0
8/30/14 – Arizona 3, Kansas State 0
8/26/16 – Kansas State 3, Arizona 1
11/6/24 – Kansas State 3, Arizona 0
 
SCOUTING #8 ARIZONA STATE

• Arizona State, the defending Big 12 Champion, closed out the Sun Devil Classic with three-straight sweeps to wrap up non-conference play. The Sun Devils are undefeated towards unranked opponents in non-conference play throughout head coach JJ Van Niel’s three seasons.
• Heading into the convention slate this week, ASU has gained 16-straight Big 12 matches – the fifth-longest convention win streak within the nation. The Sun Devils completed their first season within the Big 12 17-1, struggling their lone league loss at TCU.
• ASU leads the league and ranks 14^th within the nation in blocks per set (2.84), incomes double-digit blocks in 5 matches.
• Middle blockers Ella Lomigora and Colby Neal are each ranked nationally in blocks per set (1.38) at No. 39 and 40, respectively. Lomigora leads the staff in complete blocks with 51.
• Bailey Miller leads the staff in kills with 125 (3.38 kills/set) whereas Faith Frame leads in digs with 129 (3.49 digs/set).
• ASU was picked third within the Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll, whereas outdoors hitter Noemie Glover and Frame have been every chosen to the preseason staff.

 
INSIDE THE SERIES

• Last season, two Wildcats recorded double-doubles in Ok-State’s four-set loss towards then-No. 11 ASU at Desert Financial Arena (22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 23-25).

• With the win, ASU tied to the all-time collection 1-1, whereas taking a 1-0 lead in Big 12 matches.

Match Results
9/5/08 – Kansas State 3, Arizona State
11/8/24 – Arizona State 3, Kansas State 1
 
LAST TIME OUT

• Ok-State gained in 5 units Friday evening, 25-20, 21-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-10, that includes 37 tie scores and 14 lead modifications. Set 4 had 15 tie scores and 10 lead modifications.
• Cats hit .225 (66 kills, 28 errors) towards the Pirates .235 (54 kills, 19 errors).
• The Wildcats held a 7-6 edge in service aces, led by three from Emerson Van Lannen and Myers.
• Three Wildcats eclipsed the 10-kill mark led by Myers (23), adopted by Clinton (20) and Reagan Fox (10).
• ECU out-blocked Ok-State, 13.0-8.0, whereas the Wildcats held a 65-61 edge in dig manufacturing.
• Four totally different gamers registered a block for Ok-State, with three recording a number of – Williams (5), LeGrand (4), Myers (3).
• LeGrand turned in her second double-double of the season with 49 assists and 22 digs – setting career-bests in each classes – whereas Sims added 21 digs.
• Saturday marked the primary assembly between the 2 squads in program historical past.

 HOME SWEET HOME

• Ok-State started its residence schedule 4-0 for the primary time since 2022.
• In 4 residence matches this season, the Wildcats are hitting an unbelievable .340 paced by LeGrand with 11.42 assists per set.
• The protection is opponents to a .088 staff effectivity, led by Schmidt and Williams, who common over one block a set, whereas Sims notches 3.17 digs/set.
• Myers is averaging 4.92 kills per set at residence at a .381 clip, whereas Williams is hitting a team-best .524 with 2.08 kills/set.
• Clinton provides 3.83 kills per set, and is second with
• The Cats have served up 39 aces at residence, with Sims accounting for seven of them and 4 coming from LeGrand.
• Opponents racked up simply 21 service aces at Morgan Family Arena towards the Wildcats.
• The Cats are 18-12 when enjoying at Morgan Family Arena, since its opening in 2023, whereas they’re 422-220-5 total. Ok-State boasts a 65.6 residence profitable share.
• Ok-State began off the season at residence for the primary time since 2022 and first below head coach Jason Mansfield.

 MYERS MAYHEM

• Myers led the Wildcats to a 2-0 week, recording a Conference-leading 5.00 kills per set for the week.
• The outdoors hitter helped Ok-State take down then-No. 25 North Carolina as she turned the sixth participant in Ok-State’s rally-scoring period to document 27 kills in a single match.
• She added one other 23 kills towards East Carolina to present her double-digit kills in seven of the Wildcats’ eight matches this season.
• For the week, Myers totaled 57.5 factors on 50 kills, 5 aces, 4 blocks, 9 digs, and a .349 hitting effectivity on 106 swings.
• The senior leads the Big 12 and sits at No. 6 nationally in each kills per set (4.96) and factors per set (5.54) for the 2025 season.
• It is the Lincoln, Nebraska native’s first Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week award and second Conference weekly accolade of her profession. She was named Big 12 Rookie of the Week on Oct. 4, 2022.

 SENIOR STACKED

• Ok-State’s 4 seniors are main the staff in almost each main statistical class.
• Myers paces the offense with 139 complete kills, 4.96 kills per set, 155.0 factors, and 5.54 factors per set.
• LeGrand averages 10.07 assists per set and leads the staff in service aces (11).
• Middle blocker duo Brenna Schmidt and Jordyn Williams have mixed for 55 complete blocks. Schmidt leads with 30 blocks (1.20 per set), adopted by Williams with 25 (1.09 per set).

 SHINING IN PURPLE

• Five of Ok-State’s six true freshman made their collegiate debuts through the Wildcats’ non-conference schedule.
• Defensive specialist/libero Caleigh Ponn has appeared in all 28 units, tallying 47 digs (1.68 digs/set), with three service aces.
• Cadence Lundgren, a center blocker from Bozeman, Montana, is one in every of three Wildcats to common over one block a set. The freshman has 11 complete blocks, together with two solo to go together with 5 kills.
• Redshirt freshman Emerson Van Lannen is third on the staff in service aces, recording a season-high three towards East Carolina (Sept. 20).