Head coach Jason Mansfield enters year three at Kansas State and is looking to get to the NCAA tournament for the first time in his tenure with the Wildcats.
K-State lost six seniors to graduation at the end of last season, but Mansfield made it a point to keep everyone else on the team and he was able to do that. The retention of everyone speaks to the culture that Mansfield has brought to K-State in such a short time.
“I think the players that have come back and have been here their whole career, I think they enjoy being around each other and I think they feel how special Manhattan is and K-State is as well,” Mansfield said.
Four seniors return for K-State, including Brenna Schmidt, Ava LeGrand, Shaylee Meyers and Jordyn Williams. All four seniors saw lots of action last year and will look to use their leadership and experience to mentor the rest of the team.
“Everyone has shown their true self, and it’s helped everyone in the process,” senior setter Ava LeGrand said. “Whether it’s leading by action or words or whatever type, everyone has gone their own way and been their true self, and I think that’s helped everyone.”
Also returning for K-State is junior Aniyah Clinton, who was recently named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team and is poised for a big season with the ‘Cats.
K-State lost six players to graduation last year, but brought in a talented class of six freshmen that Mansfield is excited about.
“I think all six of them love the game, and they want this program to be great,” Mansfield said. “I think, hopefully, the older players have felt that, and the returners have done a great job of helping them out every day. But they’ve acclimated nicely.”
K-State was picked to finish eighth in the Big 12 preseason poll this year, but the team is confident in its abilities and ready to return to the court to showcase its capabilities.
“We’re ready to put a bow on it and make it what we know it can be,” outside hitter Shaylee Meyers said. “I’m just so excited and ready to leave it all on the court with these girls; they feel like family to me.”
K-State opens its season with the K-State Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29, as the Wildcats take on UMBC at 6:30 p.m. in Morgan Family Arena.
