WVU volleyball falls in five sets to Kansas State

The West Virginia University volleyball team (6-11, 0-6 Big 12) fell in five sets, 3-2 to Kansas State on Sunday afternoon inside the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown. The ‘Cats claimed the victory with scores of 24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 22-25 and 5-15.

The Mountaineers were led by senior outside hitter Hailey Green, who led the floor with 19 kills, while hitting .289%. Redshirt junior outside hitter Cassidy Tanton chipped in a second best, 18 kills.

Sophomore setter Alexis Finnvold dished 34 assists, along with five kills and three digs.

Defensively, graduate student libero Sydney Reed led West Virginia with 19 digs, while junior middle blocker Laila Ibrahim tallied seven total blocks.

West Virginia was hot out the gate in set one, taking a quick 5-1 lead. Kansas State went on to tie the score at five and seven, before a 6-1 KSU scoring run made the score, 13-8. As points rained in from both sides of the net, a kill from Tanton gave WVU the 22-21 upper hand. The score would once again be tied at 23 and 24, before a pair of Wildcat kills gave K-State set one, 26-24.

KSU responded in set two, with an early lead, 4-1. The Mountaineers responded with a 4-1 run of their own, tying the score at five. The score would be tied six more times, until a trio of unanswered Mountaineers points gave WVU the 15-13 lead. A pair of kills from Tanton and sophomore middle blocker Maddy McGath switched the set momentum, as WVU tied it all up at 21. The Mountaineers stormed ahead, with a 4-0 run, taking the second set, 25-22.

In set three, Kansas State led once again early, 3-1. A kill from Green paired with an error from the Wildcats tied the score again, at five all. West Virginia added yet another run, sending down four straight points to take a 12-9 advantage. A pair of kills from Green continued the Mountaineers lead, 18-14. The Wildcats looked to take the set, as they tied the score at 22. West Virginia remained unphased, charging on with a 3-0 run, to take the third set 25-22.

The Mountaineers looked to close the door on the match, with an early 3-1 lead. The score would be tied up until the 14th point, before a 4-1 run from the ‘Cats would give K-State the lead, 18-15. Kansas State continued dominance, posting three straight kills to take a 22-17 advantage. The Mountaineers attempted a comeback with a late 3-0 run, as they trailed 23-21. Kansas State went on to seal the fourth, 25-22 with a kill.

Kansas State dominated in the fifth and final set, leading 6-1. The Wildcats continued to hold the lead, 13-4. A kill from Finnvold marked the last point of the match for the Mountaineers, as K-State took the fifth and final set, 15-5.

Next, West Virginia concludes their three-game home stand on Oct. 16, welcoming UCF. Wednesday’s match is slated for 7 p.m. ET, inside the WVU Coliseum.

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