Kansas State Volleyball To Represent Team USA At World University Games

Kansas State Volleyball’s NCAA season ended with a first round loss to Northern Iowa in what was only the team’s fourth 3-0 sweep of the year. However, the Wildcat Women will have the opportunity to play again this summer at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia while representing Team USA. They will compete from July 6-17, likely with some additional time to travel and explore as well.

The Wildcats will begin the event in pool play before moving on to the bracket side of the tournament. Also in K-State’s pool are Russia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. There are a few major adjustments coach Suzie Fritz will need to prepare her players for. International rules limit teams to 12 players, while the NCAA allows rosters of 15. The team already knows one teammate who will not suit up for them – outside hitter Lilla Porubek is originally from Budapest, Hungary and international players are not eligible to play on Team USA (for obvious reasons). Proubek was second in kills this year for K-State.

“USA Volleyball is excited that Kansas State has agreed to represent the United States in the upcoming World University Games for women’s indoor volleyball,” said USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal, in a press release from the K-State Athletics Department. “The World University Games is a prestigious event held every two years with some of the top rising athletes competing in our sport. Kansas State has been a perennially strong program led by an outstanding coach in Suzie Fritz who has coaching experience within the USAV High Performance pipeline. We wish Kansas State the best at the event.”