Spring 2022 Volleyball Spring Matches

[1972Shocker]

Volleyball Hosts Spring Matches

https://goshockers.com/news/2022/4/6/volleyball-hosts-spring-matches.aspx

9:00 AM - Air Force vs. Wichita State (Main Floor)
10:00 AM - Missouri State vs. Wichita State (Main Floor)
11:00 AM - Oklahoma vs. Air Force (Main Floor)
Tulsa vs. Missouri State (Multi-Purpose Center)
1:00 PM - Oklahoma vs. Wichita State (Main Floor)
Tulsa vs. Air Force (Multi-Purpose Center)
2:00 PM - Tulsa vs. Wichita State (Main Floor)
Missouri State vs. Air Force (Multi-Purpose Center)

Also here is a link to Paul Suellentrop RH podcast with Shocker Associate Heach Coach Sean Carter:

https://wichitastate.tv/podcast/roundhouse-podcast-with-sean-carter-on-wichita-state-volleyball-2/

[1972Shocker]

https://goshockers.com/news/2022/4/8/the-roundhouse-rh-shockers-play-spring-matches-at-koch-arena.aspx

Wichita State volleyball coaches know Natalie Foster (6-foot-4) is an excellent middle blocker, a third-season sophomore who hit .334 last fall. This spring, they are imagining Foster as a powerful and rangy outside hitter, one who makes the offense more potent with her blend of height and shot-making.

Foster, from Mattawan, Mich., earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors in the 2021 fall season. Wichita State coach Chris Lamb is spending the spring considering all options for Foster. She could remain in the middle, or she could move to the left or right.

"Natalie is freakishly comfortable with hitting angles, left and right," Lamb said. "She can attack with great range, and it's hard to defend. Results go her way a lot."

[1972Shocker]

At Koch this morning watching the Shocks get their asses kicked by Air Force. 13 players suited up. Only one setter, Hailey Plugge, that I can tell.

Air Force much sharper than the Shocks. Really good bsll control. Good passing, good setting and getting much better swings than the Shocks.

Quite frankly the Shocks looked like crap in the first set. Brylee was perhaps the only Shocker who looked decent. Natalie on the outside looked uncomfortable.

Nstalie has moved back to the middle in the 2nd aet and the Shocks look better. But I think AF has made a bunch of line up changes as well.

I think the Shocks won the 2nd set. They have a small 30" monitor set up to keep score but all I can see is the back of it.

Pretty impressed with AF, especially in the first set. Not impressed at all with the Shocks. Perhaps only having the 3rd string setter available was a factor. But the Shocks lack of ball control is still a big weakness.

[WuDrWu]

Wish I could make it. Any updates/details will, as always, be very much appreciated.

20 on the roster, 3 left (Bryn, Skylar & Lexi all graduated) leaving 17, and no Kayce, Zofia or Lauren (other setters on the roster) who could be absent for a variety of reasons. So just one other person not suited up? Assuming it's big Mac due to injury, but that's just my guess.

Hailey is a GREAT kid, but can't see her ever being our answer at setter so not surprising they are struggling. The article on moving Natalie around to see where she can do the most damage was interesting, more mad scientist from Lambo. I'm sure if they decide that's the direction they intend to take that it will take a lot of time and repetitions to get her comfortable there.

[1972Shocker]

Big Mac is suited up and playing. Moving well but looks a bit rusty. Kaitlyn Newsome not suited up.

Would not surprise me if Katilyn decided to go elsewhere. i don't think she was treated particular well last year and got the short end of the stick when she returned from her ankle injury.

[1972Shocker]

Missouri State won the 1st set 25-22. Shocker back row play continues to suck.

Missouri Starte wins the 2nd set 25-12.

Scores unofficial. Keeping track on an app on my cell phone.

Shockers = Bad

I probably should just keep my mouth shut. Heading home disappointed. May or may not return for the afternoon scrimmages with OU and Tulsa. Not sure I can stand it.

Maybe I am reading too much into a spring scrimmage.

[1972Shocker]

Hailey Plugge may not be the answer at setter but not sure it would have made a lot of difference on who was setting. If you only getting 1 dedent pass our of every 5 as a setter good luck.

I thought none of our littles were very good. I thought Lily and MorganW were especially bad and none of our bigs are any help when they have to receive serve. The bottom line is that our ball control and passing was just horrible. By contrast I was very impressed with the ball control by Air Force and MIssouri State and it seemed like everyone on the floor for them was capable of getting the ball to the setter in good shape.

In my far less than expert opinion LIly is not the answer at Libero (but is their by default since she apparently the best option we have) and Morgn is not that answer as a 6 rotations player. The mini-sized defensive specialists Lambo has in his lineup are not as good as much bigger back row players most of our opponents use in that role. Air Force and MIssouri State were fare superior to the Shocks on the back row.and with their ball control and passing to the point of it being depressing.

Hopefully, the product we put on the floor next fall will not resemble what I saw this morning in any way, shape or form.

[Shockm]

Kaitlyn Newsome not suited up.

Would not surprise me if Katilyn decided to go elsewhere.

Maybe, but what’s she waiting for then? Last fall when “she was mistreated” was a long time ago. Stupid to wait, so, to me, that comment of yours seems to be reaching. I have no idea how she really feels.

[1972Shocker]

Maybe, but what’s she waiting for then? Last fall when “she was mistreated” was a long time ago. Stupid to wait, so, to me, that comment of yours seems to be reaching. I have no idea how she really feels.

Good point. I do not know how she really feels and she is still listed on the roster.

[1972Shocker]

Shockers playing better so far in the afternoon. I think OU won the first set 25-22. But the Shocks competed much better than this morning.

Same group of players as this morning.

2nd set pretty much all OU as they cruised 25-13.

The Shocker ball control was a little better in this scrimmage.

Looks like they are going to play a 3rd set with OU.

Shocks with by far there best set of the pick up a 25-20 win.

I can tell by Lambo's sideline commentary that he may not have been happy with his team's effort and fight this morning. Really exorting them to fight for it against OU. Ang I think the Ladies responded pretty well.

Did not play his mini-defenders much that match and when he did it didn't go so well. Lily was much better vs OU.

Tulsa due up for the final scrimmage.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks look to have the physical advantage vs Tulsa.

Tulsa is scrappy

Shocks rallied from an 18-22 deficit to tie it at 23-all but Tulsa pulled out the win at 30-28.

Hailey's inexperience maybe hurt the Shocks late in that set.

2nd set was a game of back and forth runs wuith a bit of fatigue setting in perhaps Tulsa jumped out to a 6-1 lead. The Shocks came back to take a 7-6 lead. Tulsa then forged ahead at 13-8. The Shocks tied it up at 14. After that Tulsa had leads of as much as 3 but the Shocks had the final rally to win 25-23.

Brylee and Natalie did not play in yhe final set.

Hailey had to be pretty tired.

[jimshocker]

Newsome transferred back to her old school. One year was enough for her.

[1972Shocker]

It does indeed seem to be the case that Kailin Newsome is going back to Southeatern Louisiana.

https://women.volleybox.net/transfers/2022-23/ALL/1?search=newsom

Not surprised really. She was a big fish at SELA.

[1972Shocker]

I thought Hailey Plugge gave it everything she had today. Not sure shy she was the only setter available. Would love to know the story on that.

The key for the Shocks will be to get as many good in-system swings as possible. I think for the most part they have the attackers to compete at a high level. I thought Brylee, Natalie (when she as playing middle), Big Mac and Sophie looked pretty good today for the most part. Sophia was her usual up and down. When she is up she looks unstoppable. Not so much when she's down. MorganS was just okay today. The weak point in the attack seems to be when MorganW rotates to the frontline. She 's a bit undersized and just struggles to finish consistently.

Natalie looks so good in the middle I'm not convinced trying to move her to the outide is the way to go. I'm thinking the player to try that with might actually be Morgan Stout.

But to get into system more the Shocks need to improve their ball control and passing. I think they will be a pretty decent blocking team.

Two freshman signees coming in the fall:

Katie Galligan | 5-9 | L/DS | Omaha, Nebraska (Elkhorn South HS)

Emerson Wilford | 6-2 | RS/OH | Laguna Hills, Calif. (Arnold O. Beckman HS)

Not sure there will be any immediate help from these two. I do like a little more size and length at the DS postion that Galligan brings.

[WuDrWu]

That might explain Kayce's absence.