OMAHA, Neb. – The Mavericks fell in the final match of the MH Hospitality Omaha Challenge to Kansas State, 3-1. With a win in the third set, Omaha forced the Wildcats to take it in four.
 
With the loss, the Mavericks fall to 3-7 on the year.
 
How It Happened

• The Wildcats used an 8-2 run to open the first set to pull away for a dominating offensive showing. Jayden Nembhard used a kill for K-State's 11^th point, which sparked another 7-1 run opening the Willdcats' lead to 17-7. K-State took the first set 25-11
• Omaha had four early leads in the second set. Their final lead was 7-6 following a kill from McKenna Ruch. The Wildcats gained some separation with a 3-0 run with three straight attack errors from Omaha. The Mavericks got within one with back-to-back errors by K-State, but a 6-1 run gave the Wildcats a 24-19 lead. Rachel Fairbanks recorded a kill and an ace to get Omaha within three, but the momentum ended with a 25-21 win for K-State.
• A service error gave Omaha a 1-0 lead out of the gates for set three. The Wildcats responded with a 5-0 run. The Mavericks chipped away at the lead and got within one with a kill and ace from Fairbanks. Lakyn Graves recorded a kill midway through to knot the match 14-14. Omaha then used a 6-0 run to regain the lead, 21-17. Alexa Blase, Sadie Limback, and Rylee Marshal tallied kills in the run. Limback used another kill to make it set point and the Mavericks won 25-22 on an attack error from K-State.
• Limback, Marshall and Blase used early kills to carry Omaha to a 5-2 lead to open the fourth set. K-State found its rhythm and took a 7-5 lead with a 5-0 run. They pulled even further ahead with another 5-0 run to lead, 12-6. Limback, Graves, and Ruch got Omaha within four with three straight kills, but the Mavericks could not catch up. K-State won 3-1 with a 25-19 score in set four.

 
Inside the Box

• With her first dig of the match, Claire Mountjoy surpassed the 2,000-career dig mark. She finished the match with 16 digs.
• Jaiden Centeno led the Mavericks with 17 digs, while Fairbanks added 10.
• Limback finished hitting .353 with 15 kills on the day. She was the only Omaha player to hit double-digits.
• Sami Clarkson tallied 22 assists, while Oliva Curry added 16.
• Fairbanks led Omaha with two aces.
• Limback and Centeno were named All-Tournament.

 
Up Next
Omaha opens Summit League action hosting newcomers St. Thomas at Baxter Arena on Thursday, Sept. 23. The match is set to start at 7 p.m.