The K-State volleyball team faced a challenge last week - they competed against two top-10 opponents in four days.

First it was top-ranked Nebraska and then No. 7 Texas.

After K-State lost 3-0 at Nebraska on Wednesday, the Longhorns defeated the No. 17 Wildcats 3-2 (30-26, 25-30, 30-27, 22-30, 15-9) Saturday night at Ahearn Field House.

Still, K-State coach Suzie Fritz said her team was ready for the test and played well.

"They are really good," Fritz said of the Longhorns. "I thought we competed so hard. I am exceptionally proud of them. If that team shows up to most matches - that K-State team - we'll win most of them."

Coming into the match, Texas had swept four of its last five opponents and is now 6-1 in the Big 12. The Longhorns only have lost three matches this season, once to Nebraska and twice to No. 3 Penn State.

Though Texas has lost just once in its last nine appearances, coach Jerritt Elliot considered K-State a worthy opponent.

"We knew this was going to be a battle," Elliott said. "To be able to play here and win was huge."

The Wildcats' loss moves them to 5-3 in conference play and 13-5 overall.

Fritz said her squad was struggling to block Texas.

"They're 6-5 across the front row," Fritz said. "We felt there was going to be some match-up concerns, for sure."

K-State's main concern was the Longhorns' 6-foot-4 outside hitter Destinee Hooker. She led her team with 18 kills on .256 hitting. Also tallying double-digit kills for Texas were Juliann Faucette (15), Brandy Magee (13) and Lauren Paolini (11).

Junior outside hitter Nataly Korobkova led the Wildcats' attack, recording 23 kills and 10 digs. Senior libero Angie Lastra was the only other Wildcat to chalk-up 10 or more digs, finishing with 21. Her performance marks her 25th career match with 20 or more digs.

Korobkova also led the Wildcats in aces with three, but perhaps more notable was Stacey Spiegelberg's lone ace. Spiegelberg wrote herself into the K-State record books, tying Kathy Saxton (1989-92) with 120 career aces.

After their bye week, the Wildcats travel Saturday to Iowa State.