Sunday, December 4 (1:00 p.m. CT) Weber State (17-11, 11-5 Big Sky) vs. Drake (26-7, 16-2 MVC)
Wichita, Kansas (Charles Koch Arena)
Live Stats // View
Sunday, December 4 (3:30pm CT) vs. Grand Canyon (17-10, 10-4 WAC) Wichita, Kansas (Charles Koch Arena) Live Stats // View
Monday, December 5 (5:30pm CT) TBA vs. TBA Wichita, Kansas (Charles Koch Arena) watch
Hosting Rounds 1 and 2 of the National Invitational Volleyball Championships at Charles Koch Arena, the Shockers tackle the Grand Canyon whereas Drake and Weber State battle it out on the opposite facet of the bracket.
All video games can be streamed stay on ESPN+. Follow the stay scoring all weekend at shockerstats.com.
SCENE SETTER:
Wichita State is returning to the postseason for the primary time since 2018, internet hosting Rounds 1 and 2 of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
The Shockers battle the Grand Canyon on Sunday afternoon after the conclusion of the Weber State vs. Drake sport, which is scheduled for a primary serve at 1:00 p.m. The winners of those two video games meet on Monday night at 5:30 p.m.
Among the three guests are two unknown enemies and one very acquainted. However, the Shockers have by no means performed Grand Canyon or Weber State Chris Lamm has a profession document of 33-1 in opposition to Drake, his most wins in opposition to an opponent.
WSU is getting into the postseason winners of 4 straight video games and 7 of their final eight. It is the longest successful or dropping streak within the 2022 season.
The Shockers’ closing journey to the postseason was additionally on the NIVC in 2018. Wichita State defeated Central Arkansas earlier than dropping to North Texas in 4 units. Current Grand Canyon participant Megan Taflinger led the Shockers with 39 mixed kills within the two video games.
Three shockers have been acknowledged by the All-American Athletic Conference on Tuesday. center blocker Natalie Forster and outsiders Brylee Kelly snagged a spot on the primary staff whereas dealing with Sophia Rohling deserved second staff award.
WSU is 14-1 this season in successful the primary set (solely dropping to UCF on Oct. 30) and 4-11 from a 0-1 deficit.
The Shockers completed the common season with an RPI of 60, fourth finest within the AAC and second finest within the NIVC area. Wichita State trailed behind UCF (17), Houston (18), and SMU (59) amongst groups in The American.
LOOK BACK:
Wichita State completed the common season with highway wins at SMU and Memphis, defeating the Mustangs 20-25, 26-24, 17-25, 25-19, 15-12 and the Tigers 25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 25-16
The Shockers did not have a single participant to get double-digit kills in opposition to SMU, however produced three on 10+s and two extra on nines within the win over Memphis. The Shockers beat the Tigers 130 factors higher and set a brand new season excessive with 66 kills.
center blocker Morgan Stark was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after recording 10 blocks in opposition to SMU and 6 extra in opposition to Memphis. It’s the second double-digit block efficiency of his profession for the sophomore, who had 11 in a win in opposition to Tulsa final season.
Two shockers hit profession milestones final week. Libero Lily Liekweg had 22 digs in Dallas to achieve 1,000 for her profession whereas a setter Kayce Litzau surpassed 3,000 profession assists within the sport at Memphis. Litzau additionally set a excessive for the season with 55 helpers.
Brylee Kelly scored 20 kills and 11 digs in defeating Memphis. During her first three faculty seasons, Kelly had a double-double; She has recorded seven of 30 video games this season.
The Shockers mixed a complete of 26 blocks in 9 units final week. WSU completed the common season because the second-best blocking unit in The American, averaging 2.36 per set.
Wichita State overcame 14 errors of serve to defeat Memphis simply two days after recording extra aces (7) than errors (6) within the win over SMU. The Shockers completed the common season in 268th place nationally with aces per set.
WSU GRAND CANYON SERIES:
The first assembly between the Shockers and Lopes will happen on Sunday.
RECOGNIZING THE LOPES:
Grand Canyon goes into the postseason with a 17-10 total document, going 10-4 within the WAC and ending in a tie in third place. Regular season champion UTRGV can also be within the NIVC area.
This is the primary postseason look on the Division 1 degree for the Lopes.
Three Grand Canyon gamers have been named First Team All-Conference: Kansas City grad Melanie Brecka, veteran setter Klaire Mitchell, and star freshman Tatum Parrott.
Mitchell is a two-time WAC Setter of the Year and completed the common season second on the circuit with 10.16 assists per set. Parrott was Lopes’ prime scorer and ranked fourth within the league with 3.33 kills per set.
Former shocker Megan Taflinger began the season as an outdoor hitter however switched to libero in late October. She spent three seasons in Wichita and recorded 730 black-and-yellow kills.
The Lopes had a streak of 21 straight set wins from October 22 to November 17. That streak was damaged within the WAC quarterfinals, the place GCU have been defeated in 4 units by eventual convention champion Stephen F. Austin.
Head coach Tim Nollan is in his seventh season on the helm of the Lopes after 9 years as an assistant and assistant head coach at USC. After a 14-39 begin in his first two seasons at Phoenix, Nollan has since posted an 82-44 mark.
WSU DRAKE SERIES:
The Shockers lead the all-time collection in opposition to the Bulldogs 49-17 in a collection historical past courting again to the 1976 season.
head coach Chris Lamm misplaced his first assembly to Drake on September 15, 2000 and has not misplaced to the Bulldogs since. Under Lamb’s management, the Shockers have defeated Drake 33 instances in a row.
Over the course of their final ten matchups, the Bulldogs have gained simply two units. The final assembly between the 2 applications was in 2016 earlier than the Shockers left the Missouri Valley Conference for The American.
The Shockers set a number of faculty information (30-17, 30-13, 30-17) in a 2003 win over the Bulldogs. WSU hit .583 for the match, the most effective in program historical past, and in addition hit 19 aces of serve, their most in a three-set match.
RECOGNIZING THE BULLDOGS:
Drake goes into the postseason with essentially the most regular-season wins within the NIVC area and boasts a Sterling 26-7 total document. The Bulldogs completed second on the Missouri Valley Conference, 16-2, and ended their 12-game successful streak with a five-set loss to Northern Iowa within the MVC Tournament Championship. It was the primary look in a title sport for the Bulldogs since 1996.
Drake is one win away from setting a brand new program document for single-season wins. The Bulldogs additionally gained 26 video games in 1996.
Senior exterior hitter Haley Bush was named 2022 MVC Player of the Year, the second such honor of her profession. Bush leads the Bulldogs with 4.25 kills per set.
Freshman setter Addison Beagle turned the primary MVC freshman of the yr in program historical past, main all freshmen nationally with 1,301 complete assists.
Head coach Darrin McBroom is in his tenth season at Des Moines. McBroom, the 2020 MVC Coach of the Year, gained 322 video games on the NJCAA degree with MCC-Longview and Iowa Western.
WSU-WEBER STATE SERIES:
Wichita State and Weber State have by no means met in volleyball.
RECOGNIZING THE WILDCATS:
Weber State completed the common season 17-11 total and 11-5 in Big Sky, tied for second place with fellow NIVC competitor Portland State. Former Shocker opponents Northern Colorado clinched the common season and event titles from Big Sky.
The Wildcats are not any strangers to the postseason or the NIVC. Last season, they reached the quarterfinals of the event, defeating CSU Bakersfield and Portland State earlier than dropping a five-set heartthrob in opposition to UTEP.
The yr earlier than, Weber State clinched its first NCAA event win in program historical past with a four-set win over Bowling Green.
The Wildcats boast an elite defensive lineup that led the Big Sky in opponent hit price (.164) and grabs per set (16.2) whereas ending second in blocks per set (2.64).
Four-time Big Sky All-Conference First Team choice Dani Richins offers the offensive firepower. She leads the Wildcats with 3.24 kills per set.
Head Coach Jeremiah Larsen is in his eighth season at Ogden. He guided Weber State to 3 convention titles after arriving from the state of Utah.
NEXT:
The Shockers both advance to Round 3 of the NIVC on Wednesday or finish the 2022 season.
