MANHATTAN, Kan. Following the Nike Portland Invitational, three Kansas State Wildcats were honored by the participating coaches as members of the All-Tournament Team. Outside hitter Rita Liliom and middle blocker Kelsey Chipman both received the honor with opposite hitter Nataly Korobkova being named the tournament’s MVP.

Korobkova tallied 49 kills over the weekend to average 3.50 kills per set. She had 17 kills against UC Irvine, 13 in a win over Arizona State and 11 against South Florida. Her most impressive performance on the weekend could have come in her only match without reaching double digits in kills. Against host Portland, Korobkova had eight kills on 18 swings without an error for a .444 hitting percentage. She assisted on seven blocks in a match the Wildcats dominated at the net.

Liliom led the team in kills for the weekend 63 to average 4.85 kills per set. The senior had 22 kills against UC Irvine and reached double digits in all four matches for the weekend. She hit at a .258 clip and marked her second double-double of the season with 15 digs against the Anteaters as well.

Chipman was the most efficient attacker for the Wildcats and played a big part in the team’s performance blocking at the net. The junior had 35 kills for the tournament to average 2.50 per set. Chipman also had 19 total blocks over the four-match stretch to average 1.29 per set. Defensively, Chipman also added 20 digs, but most impressive was she went the entire tournament without a single hitting error. Chipman got her 35 kills on 68 attacks for a .515 hitting percentage.

This is Chipman’s first all-tournament honor this season as Korobkova and Liliom were both named to the Mortar Board Premier All-Tournament Team at Purdue.

k-statesports.com