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A challenging and somewhat frustrating season is winding down with 4 matches remaining on the schedule. Wichita State volleyball returns home to Charles Koch Arena to face SMU at 7 p.m. Friday, before taking on Memphis Sunday at 1 p.m.
The following week the Shockers close out the season at home against Tulsa before closing the season on the road against ECU.
About SMU
The SMU Mustangs come into the weekend at 15-7 overall and 8-4 in The American after splitting two matches against Memphis and UCF...SMU defeated Memphis on the road Nov. 1, 3-2, before falling to UCF at home Nov. 3, 3-1...Through 22 matches, the Mustangs are led by sophomore outside hitter Hannah Jacobs (270 kills, 3.55 kills/set, .202 attack pct.), sophomore setter Lily Heim (934 assists, 11.53 assists/set, 17 aces, 238 digs, 2.94 digs/set, three block solos and 32 block assists), senior libero Montana Watts (376 digs, 4.76 digs/set, 63 assists) and junior middle blocker Meryn Kennedy (16 aces, 10 block solos, 71 block assists, 1.12 blocks/set)...Heim currently is fourth in the nation in assists per set...SMU was tabbed fifth in The American preseason poll...The Mustangs are under the direction of 25th season head coach Lisa Seifert.
About Memphis
The University of Memphis Tigers enter the weekend at 15-9 overall and 4-8 in The American after splitting two home contests vs. SMU and USF...Memphis fell to SMU Nov. 1, 3-2, before defeating USF Nov. 3, 3-1...The Tigers are slated to play at Tulsa Friday before facing WSU Sunday...Through 24 contests, Memphis is paced by junior right side hitter Hannah Flowers (318 kills, 3.42 kills/ set, .330 attack pct., 43 aces, 47 digs, two block solos, 52 block assists), sophomore setter Sabrina BIanco (963 assists, 10.24 assists/set, 16 aces, 244 digs, 29 block assists), sophomore libero Kaitlyn Gehler (358 digs, 3.93 digs/set, 64 assists, 23 aces) and sophomore middle blocker Andrea O'Connor (128 kills, eight block solos, 52 block assists, 0.71 blocks/set)...Memphis was picked to finish 12th in The American preseason poll...The Tigers are under the leadership of second season head coach Sean Burdette.
Theoretically, the Shockers could still finish at .500 in AAC play of they win all 4 of their remaining matches. Maybe that would give them a shot at making the AAC Tournament but would not guarantee that. The formula for qualifying the #5 and #6 seeds is pretty complicated. As practical matter I don't think the chances of the Shocks going 4-0 to close out the season are very good at all. In fact, the possibility of going 0-4 is probably higher. My hope is the Shocks will split the matches this week and next. Most likely wins are the Sunday matches against Memphis and ECU.
Hopefully, Mckayla and Megan will be back for these final 4 matches.
A challenging and somewhat frustrating season is winding down with 4 matches remaining on the schedule. Wichita State volleyball returns home to Charles Koch Arena to face SMU at 7 p.m. Friday, before taking on Memphis Sunday at 1 p.m.
The following week the Shockers close out the season at home against Tulsa before closing the season on the road against ECU.
About SMU
The SMU Mustangs come into the weekend at 15-7 overall and 8-4 in The American after splitting two matches against Memphis and UCF...SMU defeated Memphis on the road Nov. 1, 3-2, before falling to UCF at home Nov. 3, 3-1...Through 22 matches, the Mustangs are led by sophomore outside hitter Hannah Jacobs (270 kills, 3.55 kills/set, .202 attack pct.), sophomore setter Lily Heim (934 assists, 11.53 assists/set, 17 aces, 238 digs, 2.94 digs/set, three block solos and 32 block assists), senior libero Montana Watts (376 digs, 4.76 digs/set, 63 assists) and junior middle blocker Meryn Kennedy (16 aces, 10 block solos, 71 block assists, 1.12 blocks/set)...Heim currently is fourth in the nation in assists per set...SMU was tabbed fifth in The American preseason poll...The Mustangs are under the direction of 25th season head coach Lisa Seifert.
About Memphis
The University of Memphis Tigers enter the weekend at 15-9 overall and 4-8 in The American after splitting two home contests vs. SMU and USF...Memphis fell to SMU Nov. 1, 3-2, before defeating USF Nov. 3, 3-1...The Tigers are slated to play at Tulsa Friday before facing WSU Sunday...Through 24 contests, Memphis is paced by junior right side hitter Hannah Flowers (318 kills, 3.42 kills/ set, .330 attack pct., 43 aces, 47 digs, two block solos, 52 block assists), sophomore setter Sabrina BIanco (963 assists, 10.24 assists/set, 16 aces, 244 digs, 29 block assists), sophomore libero Kaitlyn Gehler (358 digs, 3.93 digs/set, 64 assists, 23 aces) and sophomore middle blocker Andrea O'Connor (128 kills, eight block solos, 52 block assists, 0.71 blocks/set)...Memphis was picked to finish 12th in The American preseason poll...The Tigers are under the leadership of second season head coach Sean Burdette.
Theoretically, the Shockers could still finish at .500 in AAC play of they win all 4 of their remaining matches. Maybe that would give them a shot at making the AAC Tournament but would not guarantee that. The formula for qualifying the #5 and #6 seeds is pretty complicated. As practical matter I don't think the chances of the Shocks going 4-0 to close out the season are very good at all. In fact, the possibility of going 0-4 is probably higher. My hope is the Shocks will split the matches this week and next. Most likely wins are the Sunday matches against Memphis and ECU.
Hopefully, Mckayla and Megan will be back for these final 4 matches.
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