MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Central Arkansas Sugar Bears concluded K-State Invitational play on Saturday night as they fell to host Kansas State Wildcats 3-1 in the Bramlage Coliseum. For the second time this tournament, the Sugar Bears (4-3) could not capitalize on a set one win and watched as the Wildcats won the next three in front of a packed K-State crowd. Junior Abbie Harry led the attack with 12 kills while sophomores Madi Bowles and Lexi Miller each contributed 10. Junior Bailey Waddington led in the assists department with 20 and junior Emily Doss continued to put up big defensive numbers, contributing 20 digs on the night.
 
Doss was recognized for her weekend's performance after the match when she was named to the K-State Invitational All-Tournament team. Doss impressed through 11 sets with a team-high 54 digs, improving her season total to 119.
 
SET 1 – After three ties occurred within the first six points, the Sugar Bears created some separation off a 4-0 run to make it 7-3 early. The lead grew to seven later on as Harry delivered one of her five set kills to give her team the 13-7 advantage. The Wildcats pressured the Sugar Bears a few points later and got two kills that sparked a 3-0 run to pull within one at 14-13. Up 19-17, Central Arkansas got back-to-back kills from Harry and redshirt-sophomore Ravin Rhodes that boosted a 3-0 run to make it 22-17. After Doss delivered back-to-back kills to later make it 24-19, K-State made things interesting with a quick 4-0 run to make it 24-23. Looking for an answer, Harry came through for the Sugar Bears and landed a kill to clinch the set.
 
SET 2 – Both teams clawed back and forth early and neither team had breathing room until K-State converted a 4-0 run to go up 13-8 midway through. Several points later, Central Arkansas got back-to-back kills from Bowles and Rhodes and only trailed one at 15-14. Up 18-17, the Wildcats got the separation they needed off a 3-0 run and led 21-17. Central Arkansas would attempt to threaten with a quick 2-0 run, but the Wildcats would eventually get a Sugar Bear error and win it 25-22.
 
SET 3 – The third set was instant entertainment for the crowd and ESPN+ viewers as neither side held a lead bigger than three. With the Sugar Bears up three after a Doss service ace, the set shifted as the Wildcats went on a crucial 6-0 run to take a 17-14 lead. Central Arkansas sat the home crowd back down though after a 4-0 spurt made it 20-18 Sugar Bears. The remainder of the set was a game of runs as the Wildcats went on three separate mini runs to the finish line. After a K-State service error tied it at 23-all, the Wildcats got a kill and Sugar Bear service error to win it at 25-23.
 
SET 4 – The Wildcats carried the momentum through the first 23 points and held a strong 15-7 lead. The Sugar Bears showed a glimpse of life after getting kills from redshirt-junior Amanda Beaton and Bowles that made it 15-10, but K-State responded with a 3-0 spurt and was never threatened again.
 
 ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH JOHN NEWBERRY ON THE TOURNAMENT
 
"We knew coming into this tournament that it was going to be extremely challenging. We started off the tournament aggressive with a killer instinct. Unfortunately, we didn't finish the rest of the match versus Omaha with that mindset. I thought we competed well versus Clemson and Kansas State We fought hard throughout most of the match.
 
This weekend has exposed areas that we need to improve on and prepared us for a very high level of competition. We look forward to getting into practice so that we can continue to improve and defend our home court."
 
UP NEXT         
 
The Sugar Bears will head home and prep for their third straight tournament, as the Central Arkansas Invitational is set to begin on September 13. The Sugar Bears will face the Ole Miss Rebels on night one at 6:30 p.m. in front of their home crowd for the first time all year.