This weekend, rival volleyball teams K-State (7-10, 1-6 Big 12 Conference) and Kansas (9-8, 2-6) will meet in Manhattan for Wildcat Weekend.

The Wildcats are fresh off their first conference win against Missouri. Head coach Suzie Fritz was ecstatic of the way her team played.

"I was really proud of the fact that we were down in both games three and four and just stayed in it, stayed patient, and waited for our opportunities," Fritz said. "We had some really nice serving runs where we kept some consistent pressure on them. We were digging balls and winning long rallies."

KU suffered a disappointing loss to Texas Wednesday night, losing in three sets. Regardless, Fritz was optimistic that the match-up will be a crowd-pleaser.

"It'll be great," Fritz said. "Another opportunity to play at home. The hope is that the Wildcat fans will come out and support us Saturday afternoon."

K-State has won 26 of the last 28 meetings, leading the series 60-37-1. The Wildcats have lost only twice in the last 14 years of the Sunflower Showdown.

The Jayhawks will be playing junior outside hitter Karina Garlington, who has recorded 208 kills for a .218 attack percentage. Also anticipated is an appearance by senior middle blocker Paige Mazour, a strong front row player with 139 kills for .323, 46 total blocks and 14 aces. Defensively, junior libero/defensive specialist Melissa Manda — a Wichita native — has posted 252 digs and 10 aces with only 11 reception errors.

In the back row for K-State, junior libero Lauren Mathewson will lead with 259 digs and 14 aces, including four aces in the last match, alongside freshman defensive specialist Caitlyn Donahue, who scored a career-high 22 digs against Missouri. Up front, junior outside hitter JuliAnne Chisholm — 202 kills for .161 — and senior middle blocker Kelsey Chipman — 171 kills for .358 with 73 blocks and 15 aces — will head the charge in search of another conference win.

When asked if her team could continue the success from Wednesday night, Donahue said that they were in high spirits, but still working hard in practice.

"Our team has set goals and things that we need to work on, so we're going to try to accomplish that in practice more," Donahue said. "Now that we know what it's like to win, I think that we want to feel that more often." This volleyball game will commence Wildcat Weekend Saturday at 1 p.m. in Ahearn Field House.