WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (KStateSports.com) – K-State recovered from a 2-1 hole to force a fifth set, but the Wildcats suffered a defeat to UC Davis Saturday inside Holloway Gymnasium on the second day of the Stacey Clark Classic – 25-20, 20-25, 23-25, 25-14, 13-15.
K-State (0-2) won a challenge to tie the final set, 5-5, until UC Davis capitalized on kills from Olivia Utterback and Jade Light that led to five consecutive points. The Wildcats managed to get back within a point, but service errors handed the Aggies (2-0) the win.
In the second set, UC Davis held K-State to a .032 efficiency – the Cats’ lowest of the match – behind six total team blocks.
Defensively, the Cats produced 100 digs highlighted by 33 from Ella Larkin, who was one short of matching an all-time career high. K-State totaled 10 blocks, led by six from Brenna Schmidt and four from Jordyn Williams, as the duo registered career-best with 11 kills each.
Aliyah Carter produced a double-double for the second consecutive match with 20 kills and 13 digs, while Shaylee Myers added 12 kills, including seven in the second set.
Liz Gregorski served up a match-high four aces to go alongside seven kills and a career-high 14 digs, while Izzi Szulczewski turned in 49 assists in the 5-1 offense with nine digs.
FROM THE CATS
Head Coach Jason Mansfield
Overall Statement…
“Disappointing loss tonight. We battled to give ourselves a chance to win it in five after going down 2-1, but UC Davis just made more plays in the end. Incredible defensive performance tonight digging 100 balls as a team and [Larkin] with 33. I thought we served and passed well again, so we are doing good things with those two skills. Need to continue to find ways to be more consistent offensively. Good match for [Williams] and [Schmidt], I thought [Szulczewski] spread the ball around well and ran the offense we needed to be successful. Short turnaround for tomorrow against a good UMBC team that has lots of experience, we need to be ready to compete.”
SET-BY-SET
Set One – K-State 25, UC Davis 20
Neither team took hold of a substantial lead until K-State earned a 20-15 lead with the help of a 5-1 run to take the lead in the match.
K-State held a 14-12 edge in kills in the first set, led by Williams and Myers who combined for nine. Williams hit an incredible .833 in the set with five kills on six swings.
Set Two – UC Davis 25, K-State 20
After falling behind 5-2, K-State rallied with a 12-3 spurt highlighted by six kills from Myers. A block from Carter and Williams led to a UC Davis timeout with K-State leading 16-9.
The Aggies utilized the timeout, coming out with a 10-1 run to take hold of a 19-17 advantage. K-State was held to a .032 hitting efficiency compared to UC Davis’ .130.
Set Three – UC Davis 25, K-State 23
K-State retaliated from a five-point run by UC Davis and worked their way to take level the score at 19-all, but the rally was short-lived as the Aggies pieced together another 5-0 run to capture the set.
The Aggies held a 18-12 kills advantage in the third set, while the Cats led in blocks, 3-1.
Set Four – K-State 25, UC Davis 14
Down 5-4, the Cats came back with a 15-7 with three kills and two aces by Gregorski. K-State put the fourth set away with three straight points from Williams, that included a block assist with Brown.
K-State hit a season-best .333 with 16 kills and five errors on 33 swings, with five kills from Schmidt and four from Carter, while the defense limited UC Davis to a .029 hitting percentage.
Set Five – UC Davis 15, K-State 13
K-State won a challenge to tie the final set, 5-5, until UC Davis capitalized on a five-point run and three service errors to secure the win.
INSIDE THE BOX
- UC Davis earned the five-set win – 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 14-25, 15-13.
- K-State held a 67-52 advantage in kills, with a .163 hitting percentage.
- The Aggies out-blocked the Cats, 15-10.
- Szulczewski produced 49 assists in the 5-1 offense.
- Williams hit a match-high .429 with a career-high 11 kills, seven digs and four blocks.
- Gregorski served up four aces, while K-Stare had eight errors in the match.
- Four players turned in 10 or more kills – Carter, Myers, Schmidt, Williams.
- Schmidt achieved a career-high 11 kills, hitting at a .409 efficiency, while matching a career-best six blocks.
- Defensively, Larkin had 33 digs – short one dig of matching a career-best.
BEYOND THE BOX
- Saturday marked the first-ever meeting between the Wildcats and Aggies.
- Myers reached double figure kills for the first time since Oct. 14, 2023, against UCF (10).
- Carter registered her second consecutive double-double – 26th career.
- K-State is 2-5 in five-set matches under Mansfield.
- First 0-2 start since 2011 – K-State ended the 2011 season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
WHAT’S NEXT
K-State concludes the Stacey Clark Classic Sunday at Holloway Gymnasium, as the Wildcats face UMBC (0-1) at 10:30 a.m. CT.
