K-State volleyball transfer adjusts to life in the Midwest and is ready to make an impact for the ‘Cats

MANHATTAN (KSNT) – Surely the biggest news of the K-State volleyball offseason is the return of three-time unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection Aliyah Carter.

However, the Wildcats coaching staff also hit hard to surround Carter with talent.

Jordyn Williams, a redshirt sophomore who plays middle blocker, has chosen to join K-State. The Wildcats also offer Ella Larkin a homecoming of sorts. Larkin, a Wichita native, is transferring to K-State from LSU. If anything, moving to Kansas is quite an adjustment for Pepperdine transfer Meg Brown.

Brown has lived in California her entire life and recently went viral on TikTok discussing the differences between her home state and Manhattan, Kansas.

“I knew it would be a big change from California,” Brown told K-Nation. “It’s a really Midwestern energy and that’s what I was looking for. A lot of people actually think I’m from the Midwest when they meet me in California, just because I’m a smiley person and I get along with a lot of people.”

Brown, who was selected first-team all-conference in each of the last three seasons with the Waves, said she likes Kansas so far but is still adjusting to the humidity.

The most obvious connection between her and K-State was Steve Astor. Astor worked on the Pepperdine staff for three seasons, all during Brown’s tenure with the team, before being named associate head coach at K-State.

“I knew if she walked through the portal, she would be someone people would want,” K-State head volleyball coach Jason Mansfield said, recalling how quickly he asked Astor if he thought Brown might be interested. “Connections are everything. For her to have that connection with Steve (Astor) and respect him and want to play for him again, it means the world.”

Brown confirmed that K-State used two major recruiting arguments to its advantage: a beautiful new arena and the chance to play alongside Carter.

“We played against each other my sophomore year,” Brown said. “All eyes were on her when we played her. All our scouting was based on her.

The new Wildcat says she will bring energy and a strong desire to win to the court. Off the court, she hopes to love and support her teammates while using her four years of college volleyball experience to help younger players.

Mansfield has high expectations.

“She’s someone who has a chance to be Aliyah’s counterpart,” he said, quickly pointing out K-State’s other talented players, while admitting that Brown brings unique experience. “Having someone who has four years of experience, in a different conference but playing at an elite level, an NCAA Tournament every year. She adds things to our team that we just don’t have.

Brown says the multitude of activities possible in California means college athletics aren’t always the top priority. She says being in a community like Manhattan, which revolves around K-State and its sports, is different and exciting.

K-State narrowly missed the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and hopes to be included in Mansfield’s second year leading the program in the fall of 2024.

K-Nation airs every Sunday on KSNT. Click here to watch Sunday’s full episode.