While the program was moderately successful through much of their early years, finishing with just over a.500 winning percentage in the 1970s, Kansas State Volleyball struggled throughout much of the 1980s and early 1990s, not making a single NCAA tournament appearance or finishing with an above.500 record in Big Eight play. From 1991-93, the program only won one game in conference play, finishing 0-12 both in 1992 and 1993. The program direction started to change however, with the hiring of Jim Moore in 1994. While only modestly improving to 3-9 in Big Eight play in his first year, the Wildcats won 21 games in 1995, and finished 1996 with 26 wins, and tied for 4th in the newly minted Big 12 Conference. 1996 also marked the program's first ever berth into the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament, where they defeated Cal State Northridge in the First Round before losing to Washington State in the Second Round. While Moore left the program before the 1997 season for Big 12 Rival University of Texas, his tenure marked a tremendous turnaround for the program. Jim McLaughlin followed Jim Moore in the 1997 season, leading the program to four more consecutive NCAA Tournament berths during each year of his tenure, including their first ever NCAA Sweet Sixteen berth in the 2000 season. His time as head coach of the program marked a period of continued success for the Wildcats. Kansas State Volleyball has been one of the most successful programs in the Big 12 Conference and the nation under the direction of Coach Suzie Fritz since becoming the head coach in 2001. The Wildcats have reached the NCAA Tournament twelve times Fritz at the helm. The Wildcats have the third highest winning percentage in the Big 12 overall and in conference play. K-State has also made its impact on the national scene finishing in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll nine times under Fritz with an average final ranking of 19. Only one other Big 12 team has been ranked in the final coaches poll more than K-State in the Fritz era. K-State has made its impact on the court as well with 14 All-Big 12 First Team selections since 2001. The Wildcat volleyball team has been more successful in the classroom than any other program in the Big 12, since Fritz took over at K-State. No other Big 12 team has had more Academic All-Big 12 First Team selections than the Wildcats. The success of the Wildcats in the classroom comes from every player as K-State has been awarded the AVCA Team Academic Award seven times since Fritz has been head coach and eight total since the inception of the award for the 1992–93 academic year.
