Kansas State head coach Suzie Fritz talks to her team during a timeout on Tuesday night at Ahearn Field House. Staff photo by Rod Mikinski

It seemed as though Kansas State would complete its second sweep in four matches on Tuesday night against South Dakota, but the Coyotes just wouldn't go away.

In their longest homestand of the season with four matches in five days, the No. 21 Wildcats shot out to a two-game lead, but lost the third set, before ultimately taking the fourth game and winning the match 25-22, 25-15, 23-25 and 25-14.

The Coyotes led 24-20 in the third set, yet as they have done before, K-State found a way to battle back.

Following a long serve by South Dakota and two kills by freshman Caitlyn Donahue, the Wildcats suddenly cut the lead to just one point. But Donahue's next attack would travel long, and South Dakota forced the match into a fourth set.

KSU head coach Suzie Fritz said she was disappointed that her team was forced into a fourth game and it was due to a lack of consistency, something her team had no trouble doing last weekend in Utah.

"I think we are capable of playing better, we have been playing better," she said. "We shouldn't have put ourselves in that position to begin with."

With the win, the Wildcats extended their winning streak to five matches. Junior outside hitter JuliAnee Chisholm anchored the Wildcats' offense as she recorded a career-high 21 kills in the match. Meanwhile, senior middle blocker Kelsey Chipman added 10 kills.

"Those two players, offensively, were pretty productive for us." Fritz said.

Yet the third set exposed several weaknesses in the Wildcats' play.

"We just didn't come out with discipline, we didn't play like we should be playing and we looked too comfortable," Chipman said.

That level of comfort was exposed mid-way through the third set. K-State led the Coyotes 11-9 following a kill by freshman outside hitter Izabela Grot. However, the Coyotes would proceed to go on a 4-0 run, forcing the Wildcats into a timeout, trailing South Dakota 13-9.

K-State failed to reclaim the lead for the remainder of the set.

"That was not even close to what our expectations are for execution," Fritz said.

The Wildcats now face the challenge of another quick turnaround between matches heading into the Varney's Invitational beginning this Friday.

Chisholm said this weekend will provide an opportunity for the young team to gain more playing time prior to the rigorous Big 12 schedule.

"We need this tournament," she said. "The more matches and games we can get in, the more we grow as a team. Practice works well, but when you are in a game environment, it is just so different."

The Wildcats will begin play in the home tournament with a match against a ranked Kentucky squad, beginning at 7:30 pm.

Fritz said her team will take the time between matches to focus on improving on her team's discipline throughout games.

"I think we are capable of playing better," she said. "I think our expectations are higher. I think we need to emphasize doing what we do well."

"We've got to find some consistency and some discipline."