Cat fight ends with K-State on top at Morgan Family Arena

K-State volleyball players stand shoulder-to-shoulder during the announcement of the starting lineups at Morgan Family Arena on Nov. 6. (Ashley Olds) 

Coach Jason Mansfield’s Wildcats fended off a late challenge from Cincinnati to win in five sets at Morgan family Arena.

The Wildcats appeared to be in control after winning the first two sets 25-19 and 25-22. However, the Bearcats came out string in the third set behind their star Sydney Nolan, and succeeded in taking sets three and four by identical marks of 25-17.

Forced into a winner-take-all fifth set, both teams played well, and the set was deadlocked at 7 before a service error by the Bearcats and two straight junior Emerson Van Lannen aces forced a Cincinnati timeout.

The Wildcats then went on a 4-1 run to reach match point, with Addison Massey getting the crucial kill. Nolan tallied another kill, forcing a further serve, but Cincinnati’s Andi Spies could not keep it on the floor, sealing the win for K-State.

Massey was the Wildcats’ spearhead, finishing the night with 21 kills, matching Nolan's total. Freshman Skylar Brady finished second to Massey with 13 kills, while Cincinnati’s Ligia Williams chalked up 10.

Fuka Sekita paced the ‘Cats in digs with 23, while Viktoria Ninova paced the Bearcats with 32. K-State Sophomore Caleigh Ponn paced both teams with a 100 hitting percentage, while only playing a handful of rallies.

The Bearcats drop to 11-10 on the season, and 4-9 in Big 12 play. Coach Mansfield’s Wildcats improve to 11-9, and play their next match at 2 p.m. on Nov. 8 against Baylor.