MORGANTOWN, W.Va.– The West Virginia University volleyball team (8-13, 2-8 Big 12) dropped a five-set match, 3-2 to Kansas State on Thursday night inside of the Morgan Family Arena in Manhattan, Kansas.
K-State captured the win with scores of 18-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-15 and 10-15.
Senior outside hitter
Hailey Green once again led the WVU offense, collecting a season-high 23 kills while hitting .315%. Green also added four total blocks.
Junior middle blocker
Laila Ibrahim tallied 10 of West Virginia's 13 total blocks, while notching her second straight double-double with 10 kills.
Graduate student
Lauren DeLo also collected a double-double, with 44 assists and 10 digs. Additionally, graduate student libero
Sydney Reed contributed 19 digs.
Junior outside hitter
Quincey Coyle kicked off the match with an ace, as WVU led early, 1-0 in the first set. The 'Cats responded with a 3-0 scoring run, maintaining the lead until a KSU error tied the score at seven. A kill from Green sparked a trio of West Virginia points, as the Mountaineers trailed, 12-11. KSU pushed ahead to lead by as many as six points, 18-12. Three straight K-State errors would get the Mountaineers within four, as they trailed 20-16. The 'Cats continued, sealing the first set with a 3-1 run, 25-18.
West Virginia looked for redemption in the second set, as kills from redshirt junior outside hitter
Cassidy Tanton and DeLo would give them the lead, 3-2. A 3-0 run with DeLo behind the service line extended the Mountaineers advantage, 7-5. As points were traded from both sides of the net, six straight WVU points would put the squad back on top, 23-19. Kansas State attempted a comeback, before a kill from Tanton secured the second set, 25-22.
Kansas State kicked off the third set hot, with an early 4-0 lead. The Wildcats led by as many as eight, before a 3-0 WVU run made the score, 13-8. Kansas State laid down another run, with five straight points, as West Virginia trailed 18-8. The Mountaineers responded with yet another run of their own, 18-12. West Virginia attempted to take control of the set, as a 6-1 run would get the team within three points, 21-18. A pair of kills from Tanton wasn't enough to stop KSU, as they took the third set, 25-20.
West Virginia provided early dominance in the fourth set, with a large 9-2 advantage. The Mountaineers held KSU scoreless for three more points, until a kill from the 'Cats made the score, 14-4. A late offensive attempt from Kansas State made no impact on the Mountaineers, as WVU produced yet another 4-0 run to lead, 21-11. WVU closed out the fourth set with a 4-2 run, 25-14.
The 'Cats looked to secure victory in the fifth and final set, with a 3-1 lead. A pair of kills from Green alongside a KSU error put West Virginia up, 4-3. The Mountaineers led for the last time in the match, 6-4 after kills from Green and Tanton. Kansas State went on to dominate the fifth set, with a 6-0 run to let WVU trail, 14-7. A kill from Tanton and two straight errors from the 'Cats let West Virginia hang on at the set point, 14-10. Kansas State went on to slam the door on the final set with a kill, 15-10.
Next, West Virginia will face No. 8 Kansas on Nov. 2 in Lawrence, Kansas. First serve is set for 2 p.m. ET, inside the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.