Mathewson propelling Wildcats

Intense.

It seems that is the word unanimously used throughout the Kansas State Volleyball program to describe the play of libero Lauren Mathewson.

And it's fitting.

After watching just one match of the junior from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo., it becomes clear that her personality and role on the court for the Wildcats is unique.

"She's just driven," junior outside hitter JuliAnne Chisholm said. "She doesn't put up with anything. She just does the job and gets it done and she doesn't mess around.

It's that attitude from the K-State defensive specialist that has anchored the Wildcats (10-14, 4-10) during perhaps their most successful week in conference play thus far.

But it is a role that she is familiar with.

"I have always been like that," Mathewson said. "I have always been intense and a motivator. It's exciting and I like doing it."

Last Wednesday, her school-record 41 digs propelled the Wildcats over the 23rd-ranked Texas A&M Aggies. It was the Wildcats' first victory over a ranked opponent since Aug. 24, 2007 and only the second of Mathewson's career at K-State.

"I went into that game just trying to make everyone around me better, be a great leader out there and motivate everyone," Mathewson said. "It allowed me to have fun."

She followed the performance with 18 digs in a 3-1 win over Texas Tech, bringing her total to 59 during the two-game span. The two-game performance earned Mathewson her first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week recognition.

"She encourages. She is definitely the mouth of our defense," Chisholm said.

And for the remainder of the season, the KSU players will look to their vocal defense leader to help end their season the way they would like to.

"She's been really important," head coach Suzie Fritz said of Mathewson's presence on the volleyball court.

The next step in that process will begin tonight as K-State travels to Lawrence to take on their in-state rival Kansas. The Jayhawks embarrassed the Wildcats in their first meeting at Ahearn Field House in October.

"We played very poorly the first time we played them," Fritz said. "I thought they played in contrast very well. It was an off night for us."

In their previous match with the Jayhawks, the Wildcats were swept 3-0, suffering only their fourth loss to KU since the inception of the Big 12 conference.

However, Chisholm said her team has grown a significant amount since the home loss to KU on Oct. 17.

"We have changed a ton," Chisholm said. "We have made a lot of improvements. We are still working on playing well over time and putting the complete game together. We're ready to go."

The Jayhawks enter the match on the heels of a two-game road trip in which they traded sweeps, sweeping Colorado before getting swept against Oklahoma. With the split, the Jayhawks are currently sitting one game ahead of K-State in the Big 12 standings at 5-9, good for eighth place.

Manhattan Mercury file photo.