K-State volleyball team downs Aggies in five sets

The K-State volleyball team claimed its third conference win against No. 23 Texas A&M in an exhilarating five-game match that was studded with record-breaking performances from three players.


K-State (9-14, 3-10 Big 12 Conference) came out strong in the first game to take an early lead 25-20, but fell in the next game 25-27. The intermission brought it back to claim game three 25-22, but the pendulum swung the other way to favor Texas A&M (14-7, 7-6) in game four with a 21-25 loss. The match-defining fifth game went into extra points, with K-State eventually emerging victorious 16-14. Junior libero Lauren Mathewson said that her team was ecstatic after the win.


"We're off the wall right now," Mathewson said. "It's wonderful. We just really wanted to win, and we were looking for this when we fought like crazy. We grew up a lot tonight."


Mathewson, not satisfied with seeing her name under nearly ever record in the books, recorded a career-high 41 digs. This impressive feat was one dig short of tying the Big 12 Conference record for most digs in a match. This is the first time at K-State that anyone has recorded back-to-back 30-plus dig matches. Senior middle blocker Kelsey Chipman also added to the record books with five assisted blocks this match, placing her into second place at K-State for all-time career assisted blocks. As if that was not enough, senior setter Soriana Pacheco, achieved a career-high 61 assists.


The match began with a slow start. Both teams recorded net serves within the first rotation, setting the score in favor of K-State 7-6. Another series of botched serves from both sides put K-State within three of a win, and hits from Chipman and Murray edged out the Aggies 25-20. The highlight of this game centered on Mathewson, who dug 15 balls, a statistic good for a match, let alone a single game. Head coach Suzie Fritz said that she was proud of her team's performance.


"I think they went into it with a ton of confidence," Fritz said. "We came out and played exceptionally well in game one."


Game two left the crowd quiet from the beginning when Texas A&M senior outside hitter Sarah Ammerman scored two aces in the first three serves. K-State's second timeout iced the Aggies into a net serve, leading redshirt freshman outside hitter Kathleen Ludwig to record two kills next to one each from Murray and Chipman. A ball handling error on K-State put the Aggies within one of the game, but K-State rallied back with a three-point run to tie the game 25-all. Texas A&M found another stride with three straight points to claim game two 27-25.


Chipman returned from the intermission with ferocity, recording three hits and a solo block, until a timeout from Texas A&M calmed her down at 7-3 K-State. Back-to-back controversial calls from the up official upset the crowd, but a hit from Chipman calmed the storm and returned the rally to K-State at 12-8. A string of formidable plays from Texas A&M held the gap to 22-19 K-State, with a scramble for the win coming from a series of attacks owed to the combination of Pacheco's sets and Chipman's slides, an offensive play for which she is well known.


Game four found K-State down 12-21 after the second rotation. When freshman defensive specialist Caitlyn Donahue was subbed in for Murray, the game took on a different tone. In her second sizable offensive performance in conference play, Donahue swung for four consecutive kills, holding out against an Aggie timeout. She ended the game with a .667 attack percentage. Her drive put K-State back in the game at 16-22, but the Aggies returned with three points from K-State's serving to take the game 25-21.


In its first five-game match of conference play, K-State battled with Texas A&M for dominance in the first three serves, ending the third 3-4. The Aggies strung together a five-point run behind sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Black to take a commanding 9-4 lead. As was par for the rest of the match, K-State rallied from behind in an exciting flurry of big hits from junior outside hitter JuliAnne Chisholm, Ludwig and Chipman, with another series from Donahue, to narrow the game at 11-13. A long attack from Donahue put the Aggies within one point of winning the match, but the fans were able to breathe again after K-State found a drive with Donahue serving and hitting alongside Chisholm to clinch the match 16-14.


The Aggies posted strong numbers from a handful of players. Ammerman shined with a double-double in kills and digs and netted three aces and two blocks. Banse was right behind with her own double-double, including a .381 attack percentage, two aces and four blocks.


Along with the records earned by Mathewson, Chipman and Pacheco, Chisholm scored 20 kills - the highest for the match - for a .211 attack percentage next to Donahue, with seven kills for .500.


When K-State takes on Texas Tech this Sunday in Manhattan, Donahue said that her team will be ready.


"We'll take this win and roll with it."