Freshmen lift Wildcats to 3-1 victory over Campbell

Kansas State Caleigh Ponn gets ready to serve against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi during the Wildcats’ match at Morgan Family Arena in Manhattan, Kansas, on Aug. 28. (Marin Sheehe)

K-State freshmen Addison Massey and Ellah Derrer shined in key situations for the ‘Cats, helping them earn a 3-1 victory over Campbell University to end the K-State Invitational.

Throughout all four sets, the Wildcats were efficient, recording 45 kills to 13 errors. A major part of the offense ran through setter Camdyn Stucky, who led the team with 24 assists. Massey finished with 10 kills and a .214 hitting percentage, while freshman middle blocker Derrer finished the night with one solo block and three block assists.

First Set

The Wildcats and Camels traded points back and forth until Derrer served three times in a row, earning the ‘Cats a small lead.  This set would eventually end 25-17 in favor of K-State, with setter Camdyn Stucky’s service ace.

Second Set

The Camels came out red-hot to start set two, putting up a lead of 7-3. The Wildcats started off slowly and could not come back, thus dropping set two to the Camels, 25-20.

Third Set

Massey and Sydney Maue combined for a total of seven kills with no errors, and the team finished the set with a .333 rating. Massey ended the set with a kill to give the Wildcats a 25-18 set win.

Fourth Set

The Wildcats were electric in set four, finishing nearly perfectly on 12 kills and a rating of .524. The Camels had no answer for K-State’s four blocks and comfortable lead of 14-3 in the middle of the set. Ultimately, starters came out late in the set for the ‘Cats, and in K-State volleyball fashion, Cadence Lundgren ended the game with a high-rising kill.

For Jason Mansfield and his team, the K-State Invitational was an encouraging display of how this year’s young roster never backs down, learns from its mistakes and continues to respond through adversity.