Wildcats Face Crucial Test at Houston, Eye NCAA Tournament Berth
K-State volleyball travels to Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, November 20, for a pivotal matchup against the Cougars with significant NCAA Tournament implications. The Wildcats (15-8, 8-7 Big 12) will face a Houston team (8-17, 1-13 Big 12) desperately seeking a conference win at 7 p.m. CT at Fertitta Center.
The Wildcats currently find themselves tied for seventh in the highly competitive Big 12 standings, alongside TCU. A victory over Houston would be a significant step toward securing an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship – a feat K-State hasn’t achieved since 2021 and would be the first under third-year head coach Jason Mansfield. K-State currently boasts the league’s eighth-best RPI at 29.
Wednesday’s contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, with live statistics available on the K-State volleyball schedule page on kstatesports.com. Fans can also follow live game updates throughout the season on the Wildcats’ social media channels (@KStateVB). Tickets for future home matches can be purchased by contacting the K-State Athletics Ticket Office at (800) 221-CATS or visiting kstatesports.com/tickets.
A Win in Houston Holds Multiple Benefits
A victory on Wednesday would represent more than just another conference win for K-State. It would mark the Wildcats’ first triumph over Houston as Big 12 opponents and their first win against the Cougars since August 28, 2007, and the first in Houston since September 4, 2004. Furthermore, it would secure the second-most conference wins in the Mansfield era, bringing the team within one victory of matching their 2023 season record of 10-8.
K-State at a Glance
The Wildcats enter the final stretch of the regular season with a 15-8 overall record and an 8-7 mark in Big 12 play. Week 12 saw three players – Ava LeGrand (twice), Shaylee Myers, and Clinton said – record double-doubles, showcasing the team’s balanced performance. Despite a head-to-head loss to TCU, K-State remains tied with the Horned Frogs in the conference standings.
K-State has demonstrated its ability to upset ranked opponents, having recently defeated No. 20 Colorado and No. 21 Baylor. Leading the charge is Shaylee Myers, a strong contender for Big 12 Player of the Year. She currently leads the conference in attacks per set (12.62) and ranks second in kills per set (4.74) and points per set (5.19). Myers has reached double-digit kills in 10 matches this season and is one of only two players in the conference to garner three Offensive Player of the Week awards. The Wildcats have also proven their road prowess, holding a 7-4 record away from home, including a 5-3 mark in Big 12 play.
Scouting Houston
Houston (8-17, 1-13 Big 12) is battling to avoid finishing the season winless in conference play, currently on a 12-match losing streak. Their lone Big 12 victory came against Texas Tech on September 27. Despite their struggles, the Cougars have shown resilience, winning 10 sets over their last 12 matches, including hard-fought five-set losses against UCF and West Virginia.
Senior Brenya Reid recently surpassed the 1,000 career kill milestone, currently boasting 1,006 kills and ranking among the top 122 active Division I players. Alyssa Gonzales is another offensive threat, having recorded a 20-kill performance against Baylor. Defensively, Houston excels in blocking, ranking second in the Big 12 in blocks per set (2.61) and fifth in total blocks (235.0). Barakat Rahom and Kellen Morin are key contributors to the Cougars’ strong blocking game, ranking seventh and fourth in the conference, respectively, in blocks per set.
Series History
Houston currently holds a 5-4 advantage in the all-time series, including a 2-1 lead in matches played in Houston. While K-State holds a 3-2 edge in the last five meetings, Houston has won both Big 12 matchups between the two programs. The last time these teams met was on November 25, 2023, resulting in a 3-1 victory for Houston, and previously on September 25, 2024, also a 3-1 win for Houston. Under Coach Mansfield, the Wildcats have only secured one set against Houston, holding a 1-6 set record.
Looking Ahead
Wednesday’s match at Houston marks the beginning of a challenging final stretch for K-State, with two of the last three regular-season games played on the road. Seven of the Wildcats’ last nine contests have been against nationally ranked opponents. The regular season will conclude on November 29 with a rematch against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.
Milestone Watch
Shaylee Myers is just 57 kills away from reaching 1,000 career kills, a milestone that would make her the 20th player in K-State history to achieve this feat and only the second in the last seven years. She currently ranks 25th in school history with 1,053 career points and is the 28th Wildcat to reach the 1,000-point mark.
Last Time Out
Despite double-doubles from Clinton said and Ava LeGrand, K-State suffered a straight-set loss (25-22, 25-20, 26-24) to No. 13 Kansas on Saturday, splitting the season’s Dillons Sunflower Showdown. Myers and Clinton led the Wildcats in kills with 15 and 11, respectively. LeGrand recorded 34 assists and 12 digs for her 13th double-double of the season, while Clinton added 11 digs for her seventh.
Inside the Numbers
The Wildcats’ success is closely tied to their performance in key statistical categories. They are undefeated (15-0) when leading in kills and attack percentage (12-0), and boast a 13-0 record when hitting above .200. Defensively, K-State is 10-1 when limiting opponents to a hitting efficiency under .200. The Wildcats also excel when winning the opening set, holding an impressive 12-1 record in those matches. K-State has out-blocked opponents in 11 matches, with a season-high of 13.0 against No. 21 Baylor.
Around the Big 12
Arizona State (22-3, 13-1 Big 12) currently leads the Big 12 standings, followed closely by Kansas (20-8, 11-3 Big 12) and Colorado (21-6, 11-4 Big 12). Seven Big 12 teams are ranked in the latest AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll: No. 9 Arizona State, No. 13 Kansas, No. 20 TCU, No. 21 Colorado, No. 23 Baylor, No. 25 BYU, and No. 25 Iowa State. Arizona State’s Noemie Glover and Colby Neal, along with Baylor’s Ksenia Rakhmanchik, were recently recognized as Big 12 Players of the Week. The Big 12 conference is currently ranked as the No. 1 conference in terms of RPI, with 10 teams within the Top 50 and eight in the top 30.
Double-Double Dominance
Ava LeGrand, Clinton said, and Shaylee Myers have consistently contributed double-doubles for K-State, with all three achieving the feat at Cincinnati (Oct. 3) and against Kansas (Oct. 24). LeGrand leads the team with 13 double-doubles this season, followed by Clinton with seven and Myers with five. Collectively, the trio has amassed 28 double-doubles throughout their careers.
Senior Leadership
K-State’s four seniors are instrumental to the team’s success, leading in nearly every major statistical category. Myers paces the offense with 412 total kills, 4.74 kills per set, 451.5 points, and 5.19 points per set. LeGrand orchestrates the offense with 10.14 assists per set (882 total) and a team-leading 27 service aces. Schmidt leads the way in blocks per set (1.05), while Williams leads in total blocks (82.0) and hitting percentage (.334).
