SLATE: The Mississippi State Connection(s)

There’s one thing tying Mississippi State and Kansas State together heading into tomorrow’s clash of which everyone is acutely aware: Isaiah Zuber. The former Wildcat departed as a graduate transfer and signed on with the SEC guys over the spring, and will face his former teammates this weekend.

But that’s not the only peculiarity between the two programs. Last year, defensive backs coach Van Malone was the defensive quality control coach in Starkville. The Mercury’s Ryan Black asks how much that’s going to help K-State tomorrow. Meanwhile, Tyler Horka of the Mississippi Clarion Ledger contrasts the campus-swapping of Malone and Zuber.

Speaking of Black and Horka, KSUEMAW! directed you to their Q&A about K-State at the Clarion Ledger yesterday. Not long after that, the Mercury published a Q&A between the two about the Bulldogs.

At the Eagle, Kellis Robinett cruelly reminds y’all of the most daunting threat the Cats face tomorrow: Kylin Hill. Hayden Barber pitches in with yet another Manhattan-Starkville connection, addressing one Reggie Walker — who never received an offer from the Bulldogs despite his brother having worn the maroon and white.

In today’s Sports Extra, Corbin McGuire reports that Skylar Thompson is confident heading into the big game. Also at the K-State site, quotes from the coordinators’ press availability yesterday.

REMINDER: If you’re a DirecTV customer, be prepared for a possible blackout due to ongoing negotiations between Disney and AT&T, and act accordingly.

Volleyball

Gloria Mutiri had 18 kills last night down in Springfield, but it wasn’t enough to get past Missouri State in the opener of the MSU Fall Invitational. K-State (4-3) took the first set 25-18, but dropped the second 23-25. That was crucial, as a win in the second set would have meant the 25-13 drubbing the Cats handed the Bears in set three would have ended matters. But Missouri State (3-5) fought back and took the fourth set 25-17, and — as has happened all too often already this season — eked out a fifth set win 16-14 to take the match.

The Cats have a doubleheader today. They’ll take on Weber State (4-2) at either noon or 1:00 (K-State is giving contradictory information on the same web page) in day two of the event, and will wrap things up at 7:00 against Dayton (3-4). Audio at kstatesports.com.

Soccer

Gonzaga came to Buser Family Park last night, and for the first 79 minutes not much happened.

Then the Zags scored on a goal by India Jencks. And then six minutes later Laramie Hall fed Christina Baxter to tie the game at 1-1. But just two minutes later, Gonzaga was awarded a penalty kick off a foul on a corner, and Madeline Gotta slotted the kick home.

Just a couple of minutes later, with time rapidly expiring on the Cats, Baxter had the ball. This time, it was Baxter feeding Hall on a cross, and Hall headed the equalizer in with just four seconds left in regulation.

Alas, 6:19 into overtime, the Cats (1-4-2) again committed a foul in the box. Gotta nailed her second PK of the night to give Gonzaga (5-2) the win in what was without question the most exciting soccer match in K-State’s short history.