Shockers Entertain SMU Feb. 26-27

[1972Shocker]

https://goshockers.com/news/2021/2/2...feb-26-27.aspx

Match 1: Wichita State (7-0, 2-0) vs. SMU (4-2, 0-2) | Friday, Feb. 26 | 6 p.m. | Wichita, Kan. (Charles Koch Arena)

Match 2: Wichita State vs. SMU | Saturday, Feb. 27 | Noon | Wichita, Kan. (Charles Koch Arena)

Media Coverage: Both matches against SMU will air live on ESPN+ with Shane Dennis on the call. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ at WatchESPN.com ($4.99/month subscription required) ... Both contests will feature free, live stats at ShockerStats.com ... No live audio will be available for the SMU matches.

Scouting SMU: The SMU Mustangs enter the week at 4-2 overall and 0-2 in American Athletic Conference action after dropping a pair of home matches against Houston Feb. 11-12, 3-0 and 3-2 ... Through six matches, the Mustangs are led by sophomore outside hitter Jadyn Bauss (102 kills, 4.25 kills/set, .285 attack pct., 5 service aces, 88 digs, 3.67 digs/set), junior setter Lily Heim (180 assists, 11.25 assists/set, 41 digs, 2.56 digs/set), junior libero Bria' Merchant (7 service aces, 88 digs, 3.67 digs/set) and sophomore middle blocker Alex Glover (19 block assists, 4 block solos, 0.96 blocks per set) ... Heim was named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team ... The Mustangs rank third in The American in both hitting percentage (.238) and kills (13.67 per set) and are fourth in digs (17.96 per set).

Preseason Picks: Wichita State was picked to finish fourth in the 2020 American Athletic Conference West Division Coaches' Preseason Poll. SMU was tabbed the preseason favorite in the division with seven first-place votes.

The Shocks have been playing well this year and Lambo said on his Monday radio show that he thinks this year's team is much more organized on both offense and defense than they were last year. Last year SMU swept the Shocks in Dallas (14,20, 18) and then also beat the Shocks in Wichita in 4 sets in a much more competitive match (25-23, 26-28, 25-18 and 31-29).

Shocker freshman middles, 6-3 Lauren McMahon and 6-4 Natalie Foster, seemed to have had a coming out party in two weekends back matches at Tulsa. Fellow freshman outside hitters, 5-11 Morgan Webber and 6-0 Mariah Buss, also played well against Tulsa as did 6-1 RSo. OH Brylee Kelly and 6-0 So. OH Nicole Anderson both of whom have played very well for the most part so far this year with both having seemingly made nice progress from last year. Shocker setters Sr. McKayla Wuensch (who is not coming back next year) and So. Kayce Litzau who share setting duties in the Shocker 6-2 offense both seem to be much more in sink with their hitters this year, especially with the middles. Sina Uluave seems to be adapting well in her frist year playing he libero postion. It will be interesting to see who Lambo goes with at the MB positions against SMU. The two freshmen that played very well against Tulsa or the two experienced and dependable 6-3 seniors, Emma Wright and Brooke Smith. 6-0 RJr Megan Taflinger and 6-3 So. Sophia Rohling are also capable of scoring well although I would say both seem to run a bit hot and cold.

Outside the 3 seniors (Wright, Smith and Wuensch) and Rjr Taflinger this is a young team with a lot of upside. Of course, a young team can also mean some inconsistent play at times as well.
In any case, Lambo, has a lot of options at his disposal. And I did not even mention 6-1 Fr middle Morgan Stout from Nickerson, who has not played this year due to injury. Lambo said on his radio show Monday might be his most talented middle on the roster.

I am expecting two competitive matches SMU. A split of these 2 matches would be totally acceptable. An SMU sweep is certainly possible. A WSU sweep would be a bit of a surprise but would make me a very happy camper. That would go a long way towards declaring that Lambo and the Shocks are back. If not back, the Shock surely seem to be on the right track.

[1972Shocker]

Nice interview of AHC Sean Carter by Paul Suellentrop:

https://wichitastate.tv/podcast/roundhouse-podcast-with-sean-carter-on-wichita-state-volleyball/

I wonder how much longer we will have Coach Carter before he gets a shot at a head coaching gig.

[1972Shocker]

Match 1, Set 1

Shocks off to a bit of a Shaky start falling behind 4-1 including a couple of overpasses. The Shocks only point was on an SMU service error.

Shocks are going with experience in the middle with Emma and Brooke.

SMU looks like a team that would be tough to make up a big deficit on so hopefully the Shockers can stay with striking distance.

Shocks get it tied up 10-10 pm a service ace and a kill by Megan Taflinger.

The Shocks take their first lead of set at 13-12 on a kill by Nicole and a service ace by Sina. SMU has helped the Shocks with 3 service aces.

The Shocks take a 15-13 lead with a block by Brylee and Emma to trigger the 15-point timeout.

SMU pulls ahead late at 21-18 to force a Lambo timeout. It will be very difficult for the Shocks to overcome that lead this late in the match against SMU.

SMU extends its lead to 5 at 23-18 and Lambo uses his final timeout.

The Shocks score 3 in row coming out of the timeout, 2 of the points on SMU attacks that went long and one on a Brooke block. SMU calls a timeout.

SMU wins set 1 by a 25-22 score and looked clearly like the better team in doing it. SMU hit .200 vs .075 for the Shocks. SMU had 14 kills in the set and the Shocks only managed 9 kills. SMU had 4 service errors vs 1 for the Shocks and both teams had 2 service aces.

[shoxlax]

Why are we wearing masks and SMU is not?

[1972Shocker]

Match 1, Set 2

Good start for the Shocks behind Emma and Brooke as the Shocks lead 8-2. Emma on a long service run has 2 services aces. Make that 11-2 but SMU is challenging the last point. This is 10-point run on the serve of Emma Wright if this last point is not overturned. SMU has made 5 attack errors during this run.
The call stands. SMU got a free timeout which is probably what they really wanted.

Now the Shocks need to avoid allowing any long runs to SMU and get this match evened up.

Shocks still up 9 at 15-6. Getting their blocking game in gear a little bit.

Shocks make 17-7 on a Brylee kill and SMU takes their 1st official timeout. Shocks up 10 with 8 points to go.

SMU comes out of the time out and puts up an 8-0 scoring runs to make it 17-15 and Lambo uses his final time out. Shocks seem to be tightening up and right now SMU has the momentum.,

SMU now has matched the Shockers earlier 10-0 run and ties it up at 17-all before a kill by Brylee stops the bleeding and put she Shocks back up 18-17.

Brylee and Emma with a block: 19-17

Megan T with a nice kill: 20-17.

SMU kill by Wolfe: 20-18.

Nicole with a back row kill: 21-18.

Emma with her 3rd service ace of the set makes it 23-18. Emma matches her season total in aces coming into the match.

A Brylee and Brooke block and Emma's 4th service ace closing it out at 25-18.

Shocks with a 10 point run, SMU answers with a 10 point run, Shocks out on an 8-1 run.

Set 2 was the Emma Wright Show. The Shocks turn the hitting % around hitting .188 to .073 for SMU.

This set was one of the most unusual sets you may ever see.

The Shocks only have 19 kills in 2 sets vs 26 kills for SMU. I'm thinking the Shocks need to improve on that to be able to win this match.

.

[1972Shocker]

Why are we wearing masks and SMU is not?

I've asked that question all season and questioned that as well. This is the Shocks 8th match. They have worn masks in all 8 mtaches. None of their opponents have worn masks yet. OTOH the Shockers have not lost yet so maybe it's become a bit of a good luck charm. Although I'm guessing it's virtue signaling over science. Personally, I don't tjhink wearing the mask while playing is particularly healthy but that's just a non-medical person's opinion.

[Shockm]

No stats here but to the naked eye, we seem to be out blocking SMU at this time.

[1972Shocker]

No stats here but to the naked eye, we seem to be out blocking SMU.

7-7 for the match at this point.

Update: MIday through set 4 Shocks are now up 13-8 on blocks.

[1972Shocker]

Match 1, Set 3.

Both teams playing pretty solid volleyball in set 3. Shocks lead 13-12 after 25 points.

A blistering back row attack by Megan T gives the Shocks their biggest lead of the set at 15-12. Socks already have 11 kills more than they had in either of the 1st two sets.

A McKayla ballhandling error, a Nicole attack error (hard hit but just long) and a crawl over the tape service ace pulls SMU even at 16-all.

A Nicole kill followed by a Brylee+Brooke block and then a Megan+Brooke block puts the Shocks up 20-17 and SMU takes a time out.

SMU scores out of the timeout but the Shocks answer with 3 in a row to take a 23-18 lead and SMU takes their final time out. That was a Brooke kill, a Sophia kill off of a very nice set by Sina and a Kayce service ace.

An absolutely outstanding pancake dig by Sina on set point leads to a Sophia set ending kill. Shocks 25-19 (2-1).

The Shocks had 17 kills in this set (vs 19 combined in the first 2 sets. The Shocks hit .429 vs .152 for SMU.

Shocks will be very tough to best with that kind of play. One of the best sets, if not their best set, they have played this year.

This set was just the opposite of Set 2 with 3 points I believe being he longest run by either team.

[1972Shocker]

Match 1, Set 4

Shocks jump out to a 6-2 lead but SMU surges back to tie it at 6-6.

Trading points. 10-all. Both teams scrapping and battling.

Shocks edge head 15-14 at the 15 point timeout. SMU is not going to go away quietly if at all.

Sina trying to make us forget Giorgia. Shocks up 19-15. SMU calls a timeout.

SMU with a great dig on a Sophia howtizer to pull with in 3 at 20-17 but the Shocks get a MeganT and SMU attack error to go up 22-17 and SMU uses its final timeout.

Emma gets the kill on match point and the Shocks win the set 25-19 and the match 3-1. to break a 4-match losing streak top SMU. The Shocks remain undefeated at 8-0 and go to 3-0 in AAC play. SMU is now 0-3 in AAC play and they are a wounded animal with their backs to the wall so I expect them to come out fighting tomorrow.

This team has come a long way from last year. Really good stuff.

MeganT was very good throughout the match hitting 12-2-31 = .323

The Shocks had a very balance attack with Nicole and Sophia contributing 9 kills, Brylee 8 kills, Brooke 7 kills and Emma 5 kills. Emma was outstanding at the service line with 4 service runs and a boat load of Shocker points scored when she was serving.

For the match the Shocks hit .229 to .101 for SMU as their team defense continues to be quite good.

The Shocks did a job on SMU's top 3 attackers. Rachel Wolfe, Hannah Jacobs and Jadyn Bauss did combine for 30 kills but they also had 24 attack errors on a combined 104 attacks for a microscopic hitting percentage of .058. I'm guess Lambo and his coaches are super pleased with that defensive effort.

The Shocks out blocked SMU 14-10. Both teams had 8 service errors but the Shocks had 8 service aces to 6 for SMU.

I was little concerned about the Shocks only have 19 kills in the first 2 sets vs 26 for SMU but they figured it and had 31 kills in the final 2 sets vs only 19 for SMU.

A really solid win for the Shocks. Hopefully, they can carry this level of play over to tomorrow but I expect SMU to very motivated.

[The Mad Hatter]

Really nice win for the Shockers over the pre-season favorites. After a couple of years where we couldn't find our mojo, it's nice to see us playing like a more typical Lambo-coached team.

[ShockTalk]

Thanks for all the info you provide for the matches 1972Shocker .

[1972Shocker]

RH: Shockers Knock Off Mustangs

https://goshockers.com/news/2021/2/26/the-roundhouse-rh-shockers-knock-off-mustangs.aspx

[1972Shocker]

AAC scores:

Tulsa takes two matches at Memphis on Thursday (3-1) and Friday (3-0).

Other than the Shocks and SMU looks like everyone is playing out of conference this week.

On Tuesday Cincy was swept at Northern Kentucky.

Houston split a pair of matches at home against Texas Tech winning on Thursday (3-0) and losing on Friday (2-3).

UCF fell at Florida State on Friday (2-3).

Temple beat Delaware at home on Friday (3-2).

[1972Shocker]

Really nice win for the Shockers over the pre-season favorites. After a couple of years where we couldn't find our mojo, it's nice to It us playing like a more typical Lambo-coached team.

It was a nice win and Shane Dennis pointed at that SMU's Lily Heim, last year's AAC Setter of the Year, and Rachell Woulfe, a 6-2 All-AAC outside hitter last year as a sophomore, both missed both matches SMU played and lost against Houston. So, while they may be a bit rusty, SMU is at fulls strength this week against the Shocks.