The Kansas State volleyball team will aim to upend the Iowa State Cyclones at Ahearn Field House tonight.
Iowa State will be the seventh nationally-ranked opponent K-State has seen this season. The Wildcats are 0-7 in these contests.
This will be the second and final matchup between these two teams this season. On Oct. 11, the Cyclones took down the Wildcats in a quick three-set win in Ames, Iowa.
The Wildcats will go into the match with a 9-12 record overall, 2-6 in Big 12 play. The Cyclones have been the surprise team to beat in the Big 12 conference — they are 14-4 overall and 5-3 in the conference.
K-State is trying to bounce back from a five-set loss at West Virginia University on Saturday. The Wildcats managed to show many signs of life, even in the losing effort.
Defensively, junior middle blocker Macy Flowers provided a team high of nine blocks, and freshman middle blocker Peyton Williams provided eight blocks. Williams also had 12 kills and hit .375 on Saturday against the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Sophomore middle blocker Elle Sandbothe provided a season-best seven blocks against the Mountaineers, and junior outside hitter Kylee Zumach had a career high of five blocks in a defensive showcase for the Wildcats. Zumach has reached double digits in kills in 18 of the 21 matches this season, and she has done that 55 times in her career.
It was another impressive performance from sophomore setter Sarah Dixon, who had a double-double with 26 assists and 10 digs. Senior Bryna Vogel also had a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs.
Iowa State had two home wins last week. As a result, middle blocker Grace Lazard was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after a performance of 11 blocks against West Virginia. This was the fifth time an Iowa State player has received the award this season.
The Cyclones are first in the Big 12 conference in digs per set at 17.21 and are second in the Big 12 in blocks per set at 3.16 and opponent hitting percentage at .150.
K-State will face off against Iowa State at 8 p.m. inside Ahearn Field House tonight. The match can be viewed ESPNU.
