MANHATTAN, Kan. - Despite a milestone set by Sophia Hudepohl, the Lipscomb University volleyball team suffered a tough-luck, four-set loss to Kansas State University in the opener of The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Classic, Thursday evening from the Morgan Family Arena.

Final Score: Kansas State 3, Lipscomb 1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-22, 25-22)
Location: Morgan Family Arena
Records: Lipscomb (3-4), Kansas State (2-4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bisons got out to a strong start, not relinquishing an early lead. Getting out to a 10-4 lead, Lipscomb saw a Libby Steinhart kill, a Karlie McNabb ace and a block by Meg Mersman forced the Wildcats to call a timeout. 

K-State trailed 20-11 late in the set, but they used a 10-4 run to cut the Lipscomb lead to 24-20. Following a Bisons timeout, they came out with a kill by Courtney Jones to take the opening set. 

The momentum from the Wildcats in the first frame transitioned to the second. After Lipscomb took an 8-6 lead on an attack error, Kansas State scored eight of the next 10 points to flip the scoreboard and lead 14-11. 

Going back-and-forth between 10 ties and seven lead changes, the Wildcats earned set point on a block combination by Meg Brown and Brenna Schmidt. However, the Bisons answered quickly with a kill by Addi Pelham to even the set a 24 and force lingering death. 

Needing to win by two, the Bisons had the 25-24 lead with a Jada DiVita service ace, but K-State scored the last three points to even the match at a set apiece. 

The contest was another see-saw battle moving into the third set. Trailing 8-3, a kill by Mersman gave the Bisons a big side-out. With Kelsey Schenck rotating to behind the service line, she posted two aces and added a McNabb kill to make it a 9-8 lead. 

However, the Wildcats responded and used an 11-6 run to lead 19-15. The Bisons made it interesting by tying the set at 22, but a service error gave the Wildcats the side-out enroute to win the final two points and take the 2-1 match lead with a 25-22 victory in the third frame. 

In set number four, it was the home team in K-State that got out to a 15-9 lead, but a 10-3 run by Lipscomb gave the Bisons the lead, 19-18. Unfortunately, Kansas State reclaimed the lead and never looked back, taking the clinching set, 25-22, to win in four. 

QUOTABLE
KEY STATISTICS
Three Bisons posted a team-high eight kills: Meg Mersman, Addi Pelham and Karlie McNabb. 

Mersman added six total blocks, including three solos, while McNabb added 13 digs. 

Berkley Mischler also had four total blocks to go along with five kills. 

Sophia Hudepohl recorded a double-double with 21 assists and a team-high 17 digs. 

HERD NOTES
In the first set, Sophia Hudepohl surpassed the 2,500-assist plateau, becoming the fifth Lipscomb player in the NCAA Division I era to surpass the milestone. Currently fifth all-time, the junior is 655 away from Caitlin Dotson's 3,176 for fourth. 

Meg Mersman set a new season-high in blocks with six, including five in the opening set.
 
UP NEXT
The Bisons will wrap up action at the weekend tournament on Saturday with a contest versus North Carolina.