"It was important not only just because we need to start winning, but it was a confidence booster," junior Lauren Mathewson said after the game. "We are a young team and it gives a lot more confidence to go out there Saturday and know we can play like that."
K-State coach Suzie Fritz said she was pleased with her defensive effort on the night, as senior Soriana Pacheco and freshman Caitlyn Donahue both recorded career highs in digs on the night. Donahue dug 22 balls, while Pacheco added 16 digs. Many of the digs came in the midst of long rallies, producing pivotal points for the Wildcats.
"I felt like we won most of the long rallies." Fritz said. "We competed and didn't give up. We dug a million balls and played great defense."
She also added that the Wildcats' serving, which produced six aces on the evening, played a pivotal role in the match.
"That is the first time in too many matches where we felt like we have been able to string success with our serving," she said. "I felt like our serving was key in getting us back in (sets) three and four."
After winning the first set 25-21, and never suffering a deficit, K-State found themselves trailing 16-12 in the third set following a kill by Missouri's Paola Ampudia.
The Wildcats responded, however, with consecutive kills by JuliAnne Chisholm and Donahue, cutting the lead in half. After a quick response by Missouri's Julianna Klien, K-State proceeded to mount a 6-0 run, enough to seal the set, and give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead in the match.
"I was really proud of the fact that we were down, in both sets three and four and stayed in it," Fritz said. "We stayed patient and stayed in it.
We waited for our opportunities and we were able to work our way back into winning those two (sets). We got better as the match went."
The momentum carried quickly into the fourth set, as the Wildcats were one set away from their first conference victory, jumping out to a 4-1 lead.
But midway through, following a 9-1 run by Missouri and an inconsistent offensive attack by the Wildcats, K-State suddenly trailed 16-9.
With Lauren Mathewson serving, K-State found a way to battle back yet again. Ludwing contributed three kills and Kelsey Chipman added two kills and a block, adding up to an 11-1 run by the Wildcats as they reclaimed the lead 20-17.
"We just felt like we didn't lose confidence," Mathewson said.
After reclaiming the lead, the Wildcats refused to let the Tigers back into the set and sealed their first Big 12 victory of the season.
"It's huge," freshman Kathleen Ludwig said of their first conference victory. "We know that we can (win) and that is a great feeling. We are really looking forward to competing some more and going out there and getting some more wins."
The Wildcats now turn their focus to their second and final game of this home stand. KState will face in-state rival Kansas on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match at Ahearn Field House.
