Wednesday, September 26
Morgantown, W.Va.
6:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
vs
Kansas State
Photo by: Brian Persinger / WVU Photograph
WVU Returns Home, Takes on K-State
September 25, 2018 05:04 PM | Volleyball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team returns to the WVU Coliseum on Wednesday, Sept. 26, as the Mountaineers take on Big 12 Conference foe Kansas State in a 6 p.m. matchup.
Wednesday's match vs. the Wildcats marks the Mountaineers' annual Luau Night. Fans are encouraged to wear Hawaiian-themed gear, as the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free lei or a pair of WVU sunglasses.
Fans can purchase tickets by visiting WVUGAME.com, calling 1-800-WVUGAME or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office, located at the Gold Gate of the WVU Coliseum. All tickets are general admission.
When purchasing online, tickets are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more. At the WVU Coliseum ticket window, tickets will be $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups. The discounted online pricing will be available until first serve on game day. Fans are encouraged to order tickets in advance online at WVUGAME.com to avoid lines at the gate.
Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student I.D.
"I just want us to compete hard and execute at a high level," fourth-year coach Reed Sunahara said. "We haven't done that all season. I thought the best we have played this year was against Iowa State. Hopefully, we are a lot more familiar at home. Kansas State is a really good team. We have Kansas State and Texas this week, but we are looking at Kansas State right now."
West Virginia (7-7, 0-2) and Kansas State (10-3, 0-2) first met in 2012, when the Mountaineers joined the Big 12. K-State owns an 8-4 lead in series. However, the Mountaineers swept the Wildcats in the home-and-away series last season for the first time in program history. West Virginia picked up the five-set win in Morgantown on Oct. 21, 2017, followed by a 3-0 sweep in Manhattan on Nov. 22, 2017.
West Virginia dropped two Big 12 matches last week, opening conference play with a 3-1 loss to Iowa State, on Sept. 19, at the WVU Coliseum. WVU then traveled to Lubbock, Texas, as the Mountaineers suffered another four-set loss to Texas Tech, on Sept. 22. West Virginia finished the week hitting .187 with 110 kills and 17 blocks. Five Mountaineers tallied double-digit kills on the week, as junior outside hitter Katelyn Evans led the team with 36. Freshman setter Lacey Zerwas also dished out 89 assists to average 11.12 per set last week, while sophomore defensive specialist Alexa Hasting had a team-high 34 digs to average 4.25 per set.
K-State is coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, following a straight-set defeat at Oklahoma, on Sept. 21. However, the Wildcats sit just outside the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll, receiving five points in Monday's poll.
Sophomore middle blocker Katie DeMeo has developed into one of the league's premier blockers. She ranks second in the Big 12, with 1.51 blocks per set, totaling 68 on the season. The Troy, Ohio, native also ranks ninth among all NCAA Division I players in blocks per set.
The Mountaineers rank fourth in the Big 12, averaging 2.62 blocks per set, and are 31st in the nation. WVU is outblocking its opponents, 136.0-102.5.
Evans, who was most recently named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 17, has played in all but one set for the Mountaineers this season. She leads the team with 156 kills, averaging 3.06 per set to rank ninth in the Big 12 Conference. The Palmdale, California, native has recorded double-digit kills in nine matches, including her last five. On Saturday, she posted a season-high 21 kills on 49 total attempts, hitting .265, in the 3-1 loss at Texas Tech.
K-State leads the conference in kills, averaging 14.11 per set. Redshirt senior outside hitter Kylee Zumach paces the team offensively, averaging 4.14 kills per set to rank fourth in the league. Senior middle blocker Macy Flowers paves the way on the defensive side of the court, also leading the conference with 1.61 blocks per set. As a team, K-State ranks sixth in the league, averaging 2.42 blocks per set.
"They are good," Sunahara said. "They are well coached, and they have some really good pieces. Hopefully, we can attack their weakness, and I'm sure they'll do the same thing to us. We are lucky we are at home. Hopefully, it is a great match. I'm looking forward to it."
Of note, the Mountaineers are five wins away from collecting their 700th win in program history. West Virginia currently holds a 695-730 all-time record since its inaugural season in 1974.
Looking ahead, West Virginia takes on perennial national contender No. 4 Texas on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. Saturday's match features a mini volleyball giveaway for the first 500 fans, courtesy of Coca-Cola. The match also will be a part of WVU volleyball's Alumni Weekend. The Mountaineers will sign autographs following the match.
The Mountaineers and the Longhorns first met in August of 2012, as Saturday marks the first match of the season between the two teams. Texas currently holds a 12-0 all-time advantage in the series. However, WVU took then-No. 6 Texas to five sets in its first of two matches last season.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Wednesday's match vs. the Wildcats marks the Mountaineers' annual Luau Night. Fans are encouraged to wear Hawaiian-themed gear, as the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free lei or a pair of WVU sunglasses.
Fans can purchase tickets by visiting WVUGAME.com, calling 1-800-WVUGAME or at the Mountaineer Ticket Office, located at the Gold Gate of the WVU Coliseum. All tickets are general admission.
When purchasing online, tickets are $5 each and $3 for groups of 10 or more. At the WVU Coliseum ticket window, tickets will be $7 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors and $3 for groups. The discounted online pricing will be available until first serve on game day. Fans are encouraged to order tickets in advance online at WVUGAME.com to avoid lines at the gate.
Tickets for WVU students are free with a valid student I.D.
"I just want us to compete hard and execute at a high level," fourth-year coach Reed Sunahara said. "We haven't done that all season. I thought the best we have played this year was against Iowa State. Hopefully, we are a lot more familiar at home. Kansas State is a really good team. We have Kansas State and Texas this week, but we are looking at Kansas State right now."
West Virginia (7-7, 0-2) and Kansas State (10-3, 0-2) first met in 2012, when the Mountaineers joined the Big 12. K-State owns an 8-4 lead in series. However, the Mountaineers swept the Wildcats in the home-and-away series last season for the first time in program history. West Virginia picked up the five-set win in Morgantown on Oct. 21, 2017, followed by a 3-0 sweep in Manhattan on Nov. 22, 2017.
West Virginia dropped two Big 12 matches last week, opening conference play with a 3-1 loss to Iowa State, on Sept. 19, at the WVU Coliseum. WVU then traveled to Lubbock, Texas, as the Mountaineers suffered another four-set loss to Texas Tech, on Sept. 22. West Virginia finished the week hitting .187 with 110 kills and 17 blocks. Five Mountaineers tallied double-digit kills on the week, as junior outside hitter Katelyn Evans led the team with 36. Freshman setter Lacey Zerwas also dished out 89 assists to average 11.12 per set last week, while sophomore defensive specialist Alexa Hasting had a team-high 34 digs to average 4.25 per set.
K-State is coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, following a straight-set defeat at Oklahoma, on Sept. 21. However, the Wildcats sit just outside the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll, receiving five points in Monday's poll.
Sophomore middle blocker Katie DeMeo has developed into one of the league's premier blockers. She ranks second in the Big 12, with 1.51 blocks per set, totaling 68 on the season. The Troy, Ohio, native also ranks ninth among all NCAA Division I players in blocks per set.
The Mountaineers rank fourth in the Big 12, averaging 2.62 blocks per set, and are 31st in the nation. WVU is outblocking its opponents, 136.0-102.5.
Evans, who was most recently named the WVU Student-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 17, has played in all but one set for the Mountaineers this season. She leads the team with 156 kills, averaging 3.06 per set to rank ninth in the Big 12 Conference. The Palmdale, California, native has recorded double-digit kills in nine matches, including her last five. On Saturday, she posted a season-high 21 kills on 49 total attempts, hitting .265, in the 3-1 loss at Texas Tech.
K-State leads the conference in kills, averaging 14.11 per set. Redshirt senior outside hitter Kylee Zumach paces the team offensively, averaging 4.14 kills per set to rank fourth in the league. Senior middle blocker Macy Flowers paves the way on the defensive side of the court, also leading the conference with 1.61 blocks per set. As a team, K-State ranks sixth in the league, averaging 2.42 blocks per set.
"They are good," Sunahara said. "They are well coached, and they have some really good pieces. Hopefully, we can attack their weakness, and I'm sure they'll do the same thing to us. We are lucky we are at home. Hopefully, it is a great match. I'm looking forward to it."
Of note, the Mountaineers are five wins away from collecting their 700th win in program history. West Virginia currently holds a 695-730 all-time record since its inaugural season in 1974.
Looking ahead, West Virginia takes on perennial national contender No. 4 Texas on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. Saturday's match features a mini volleyball giveaway for the first 500 fans, courtesy of Coca-Cola. The match also will be a part of WVU volleyball's Alumni Weekend. The Mountaineers will sign autographs following the match.
The Mountaineers and the Longhorns first met in August of 2012, as Saturday marks the first match of the season between the two teams. Texas currently holds a 12-0 all-time advantage in the series. However, WVU took then-No. 6 Texas to five sets in its first of two matches last season.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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