Wildcats complete comeback against Corpus Christi to take first game of season

Kansas State pin hitter Addison Massey (15) hits the ball over the net against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi during the Wildcats’ match at Morgan Family Arena in Manhattan, Kansas, on Aug. 28. (Marin Sheehe)

After posting an 18-10 record last season, the Wildcats made their first tournament appearance since 2021, defeating San Diego and losing to Nebraska. Head coach Jason Mansfield’s success in his third year helped him earn an extension through 2030 and is looking to help the team go even farther. Following players Aniya Clinton and Shaylee Myers’ departing, the question lies in if the upperclassmen can step up and fill in these gaps.

First Set

The game started off with Sydney Maue and Addison Massey committing attack errors to give Texas A&M-Corpus Christi the lead before K-State tied the set twice. Two Emerson Van Lannen service aces followed, giving the first lead for the Wildcats. More K-State Kills and Islander attack errors further extended the Wildcats’ lead to 18-9. 

K-State won the first set 25-15 after Virginia Van Der Werff made service and attack errors, and Tatum Mason helped cap a three-point run to end it. The story of this set was the Wildcats’ ‘brick wall’ defense that blocked any Corpus Christi shot.

Second Set

Mason once again put the Islanders on top with a kill before sophomore Cadence Lungren also tallied a kill. K-State attack errors helped keep the game closer despite leading by eight points maximum. Reagan Fox, Skylar Brady and Ellah Derrer shined with their exchange of kills paired with service errors driving them further ahead.

All the Islander mistakes and Wildcat kills helped K-State win set number two 25-14, the largest win of the night.

Third Set

Down two sets to none, Corpus Christi’s momentum had changed dramatically. It started like the previous sets with both teams exchanging kills and attack errors. The Islanders flipped a switch, however, and tacked on K-State attack errors. Kills were the primary driver for Corpus Christi’s scoring even if some Wildcats exchanged some while the lead was large.

Despite a 20-14 Islanders lead, the Wildcats tied the set at 24 before Maue recorded two kills to give K-State the win 26-24 and complete the straight-set victory over Corpus Christi.