SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State heads to The Sunflower State to take on Kansas State and Kansas, respectively. The Bobcats will take the court against Kansas State at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 4 at the Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kan., followed by a date with Kansas at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 5 at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena in Lawrence, Kan.

The match against Kansas State will be broadcasted on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ and live stats will be available. The Kansas match will not be streamed, but live stats will be available.

The Bobcats (26-3) swept TCU to start their seven-match stretch of Big 12 opponents. The TXST offense records a .256 hitting percentage, registering 14.2 kills, 13.3 assists, and has a total of 128 aces which ranks No. 2 in the NCAA. On the defensive side of the net, the maroon and gold hold their opponent to a .150 hitting percentage and averages 2.2 blocks and 16.6 digs per set. 

Junior setter and three-time Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Year Emily DeWalt directs the offense with 11.26 assists per set and has a total of 1,137 helpers this season. DeWalt ranks No. 5 in the program's record book in career assists and averages 3.17 digs per set and has a total of 80 kills (.327), 46 blocks (four solos), and 16 aces.

Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald leads the Bobcats with 3.70 kills per set (.343) and has 374 total kills and 425.0 points. Fitzgerald has 83 total blocks (0.82 per set), including 19 solo blocks. 

Senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott paces TXST with 88 total blocks (0.95 per set) and has 19 solo blocks on the year. Scott also leads the team with a .360 hitting percentage behind 2.67 kills per set and contributes 32 digs and two aces to her season statistics. 

SCOUTING KANSAS STATE
The Wildcats (10-6) are gearing up for their first contest of the spring after their opening series against Wichita State were postponed (Feb. 25, 27). Last fall, KSU went 10-6 in Big 12 Conference play. The team registered a .224 hitting percentage, had 12.4 kills, 11.5 assists, 1.3 aces, 1.9 blocks, and 14.3 digs per set.

Freshman outside hitter Aliyah Carter leads the team with 3.74 kills per set (.180) and had 34 total blocks. Freshman OH Jayden Nembhard follows with 3.09 kills per set hitting .249, and sophomore middle blocker Abigail Archibong paces the team with 62 blocks to go along with 1.49 kills per set. Senior setter Shelby Martin hands out 9.07 assists per set and adds 42 kills and 11 aces, and 1.86 digs per set. Sophomore setter Teana Adams-Kaonohi also has 8.34 assists per set and averages 1.34 digs per set. Freshman libero Mackenzie Morris anchors the defense with 3.82 digs per set and leads the team with 22 aces.

SCOUTING KANSAS
The Jayhawks (5-10) are ended their fall season with a 5-9 Big 12 record, and opened the spring with a 3-1 loss vs. Xavier on Feb. 26. KU hits .213 on the year behind 11.4 kills per set and 10.5 assists per set. The team also averages 1.4 aces, 2.1 blocks, and 12.9 digs per set.

Graduate outside hitter Jenny Mosser's 3.43 kills per set and has 17 aces and 2.23 digs per set, and freshman outside hitter Ayah Elnady averages 2.43 kills per set and a team-best 18 aces this season. Freshman setter Elise McGhie averages 7.07 assists, and senior setter Sara Nielsen follows with 5.03 assists per set. Freshman middle blocker Caroline Crawford leads the defense with 1.08 blocks per set (67 total), including 15 solo blocks, and has 1.76 kills per set and 12 aces. Sophomore libero Kennedy Farris leads the defense with 2.90 digs per set and has 11 aces this season.

SERIES HISTORY
Texas State has never played Kansas State, but the Bobcats are 1-2 all-time against Kansas. The last time TXST played Kansas was on Oct. 3, 1992 where the Wildcats won in five sets.

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