K-State Wildcats losing campaign filled with highs, lows

The K-State volleyball team has confronted the Texans from Austin, faced the Cornhuskers of Nebraska and toppled ranked opponents in a season packed with highs and lows.

The highs began in the first two tournaments of the season, where then-No. 22 K-State almost completed a comeback against then-No-11 Minnesota and took a three-match win in Utah.

The lows began with a loss to Oklahoma in September. The Wildcats commenced a six-match conference losing streak that would not cease until mid-October in a win over Missouri. The five subsequent games marked more losses, save one win against Colorado.

The Wildcats, (12-18, 6-16) then toppled then-No. 23 Texas A&M, followed by another win against Texas Tech. K-State finished the season with two wins in three matches.

After the conclusion of the season, head coach Suzie Fritz said the season did not pan out in their favor.

"I think, from the perspective of wins and losses, it didn't go nearly as we had hoped or had expected," Fritz said.

She said there were multiple reasons for the upset, including losing some strong players, being in one of the best conferences and little collegiate experience on the team.

"I think there's a combination of a lot of factors that worked against us," Fritz said. "Our relative inexperience at the outside hitter position was pretty important in comparison to where a lot of the other teams in the league were."

Despite the disappointments this season, three K-State players have managed to set records. Senior middle blocker Kelsey Chipman, senior setter Soriana Pacheco and junior libero Lauren Mathewson have all broken records, both at K-State and in the Big 12 conference, along with a number of other players with rankings in the the conference.