Wildcats Sweep Texas Tech Behind Jordyn Williams’ Dominant Performance

The K-State volleyball team huddles at midcourt during the match.

A K-State Volleyball player jumps in the air and prepares to spike a ball.

On Friday, October 10th, Kansas State dominantly completed its back-to-back homestand for the night with a three-set sweep of the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Wildcats elevate to 10-4 overall with a split 3-3 conference record.

How it happened

Kansas State, receiving the serve, was able to establish control early in the matchup despite recently struggling to do so against Iowa State. With this, they had absolutely tormented through the first set 25-15.

After completing what was believed to be a stellar performance, the encore was all but perfect for the second set in the match-up. The Wildcats hop on the back of Jordyn Williams as they begin with a 10-1 lead, including three kills and a block by Williams in that stretch. The second set finished out 25-14 for the Wildcats, being one point away from tying the largest spread for a set so far this season of 15-13 against Nevada.

Finally, there was a nail-biter of a third set. The angry and determined Texas Tech Red Raiders were staring down what could be their last chance to win a set of volleyball since October 2nd, which also happens to be in the third set against the Iowa State Cyclones. With the game on the line and a tie on the scoreboard of 19 a piece, the Cats were able to complete an unanswered six-point run to close out the match-up and get the needed 25 points to finish out the night.

Who was the star?

This was a tough decision since it could have gone multiple ways. There were viable options in Shaylee Myers and her 16 kills for the night, or Ava Legrand and the pure leadership she continuously displays on the court to prove that this is truly a family. But I believe there is a different star that shines far brighter than any other player in Morgan Family Arena that night.

The name is Jordyn Williams.

As mentioned before, Williams helped in the stretch of a 10-1 lead and was clearly a favorite for the playmaker in the front court. The other reasoning was that she displayed gameplay that could only be described as if she were in her bag. As described by Wildcat 91.9 play-by-play commentator for the Night, Jack Johnson, she was “the queen of hit percentage” and 66.7% and at one point in the game, going over 80% for the night. Nearly every time fans saw her leap at the net, the ball would be on the Red Raiders' court floor moments later.

What’s Next?

Head coach Jason Mansfield’s group sits at 10-4 overall a along with 3-3 in the conference. They will begin a five game road stint that begins in the state of Texas with the Baylor Bears then the TCU Horned Frogs and continuing the road trip with a pit stop in Lawrence, Kansas, for the Sunflower Showdown against the KU Jayhawks on October 24th, which will be seen as a prelude for Avery Johnson and the Wildcat football team as they step on the field that following night for a Saturday matchup at the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Following the Lawrence game, the Cats play in two more matchups in Utah against the Utah Utes and the BYU Cougars before they finally return home and play against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Morgan Family Arena in Manhattan, Kansas.