Nebraska Spring Match @ Koch Arena Set

[WuDrWu]

I really don't know if Nebraska played their best girls or not. The twins played a lot (incoming freshmen) but they are also 2 of the best recruits in the country I believe.

I'm not saying we got the Huskers best shot, but they were pretty darned good....and so were we.

[The Mad Hatter]

Thanks for the report! Wish I could have been there.

[WuDrWu]

Thanks for the report! Wish I could have been there.

I try to temper my enthusiasm....Nebraska has a transfer, Kelsey Robinson from Tennessee who if you remember torched us for 23 points in that tough 5 set loss last fall, and she played libero instead of OH because of shoulder trouble.

Still, we were GREAT defensively. Hinkle was super at libero and Katie was really good as our 6 rotation. Feekin was incredible as well. I thought the girls looked in better shape than the fall, but again, what do I know. We moved fantastic and played really fast.

[1972Shocker]

I agree with pretty much everything @WuDrWu: has said. This team may be a little down as Nebraska teams go. For one thing the are very young. They have 3 seniors on the roster, 6-5 OH Morgan Broekhuis, 6-2 MB Hayley Thramer and the aforementioned 6-2 Kelsey Robinson.

Broekhuis played in 3 sets but the Shocks kept her totally under control as she had hit 0.000 (7-7-30). Thramer played in 4 sets and Robinson, who has one of the best serves in the nation and is a stud, played in all 5 sets.

It looked like both teams were playing to win with the exception of the 5th set win Lambo inserted several of his second line players.

I was very pleased and surprised with the Shocks service reception, digging and passing. Jordan Hinkle, in particular, was very good at the Libero position. Gabby Urban and Katie Reilly had a few reception errors but overall the receiving, digging and passing was very good.

Chelsea was totally in sync with Elizabeth and Ashley in the middle which is obviously going to be a strength of this team. Chelsea had a little more trouble connecting with the outsides early but that got better as the match progressed. Katie Reilly was solid and very aggressive throughout the match and Sam and Kaitlyn were more or less MIA in the 1st two sets but came on strong in sets 3 and 4.

The Shocks blocking also picked up in sets 3 and 4.

Overall a very entertaining match and certainly gives Shocker fans some positives going into next season. I have to believe that Lambo is pretty pleased with what he has to work with.

A little disappointed at the size of the crowd, but Shocker fans aren't used to spring volleyball.

Thanks to Nebraska and Coach Cook for bringing his outstanding team and program to Wichita.

[SPEShockAlum]

The wife, kiddo and I all had a blast. Having grown up in the great state to the north, it was the first time I had actually seen the NU volleyball team play a match in person, but of course we were cheering for the Shocks. Spring match or not, impressive and a great confidence boost coming off a successful end to the season last year!

[The Mad Hatter]

A little disappointed at the size of the crowd, but Shocker fans aren't used to spring volleyball.

I know we have high expectations of our attendance and Nebraska fans were well represented in the crowd, but the box score lists the attendance at 2,324. Only 14 schools (including WSU) average more than that during the regular season.

When those kind of numbers are considered a disappointing turnout (and by our standards, it might be fair to label it as such), it says volumes about where you are as a program.

[1972Shocker]

I know we have high expectations of our attendance and Nebraska fans were well represented in the crowd, but the box score lists the attendance at 2,324. Only 14 schools (including WSU) average more than that during the regular season.

When those kind of numbers are considered a disappointing turnout (and by our standards, it might be fair to label it as such), it says volumes about where you are as a program.

You have consistently stated you are more than satisfied with Shocker VB attendance and I have conceded that it is pretty good when compared to the majority of other schools. But had this match been in Nebraska they probably would have drawn 6,000 to 7,000 fans. And that is a school where VB has to compete with football. If we believe we can compete with Nebraska on the volleyball court why should we concede that we can't compete in the stands?

I do realize Nebraska sports has one of the best if not the best fan bases in college sports and it probably is unreasonable to expect little old Wichita State to match them but I see no reason not to at least strive to be the best and to have high expectations. Maybe we are be the best we can be and perhaps this year will prove to be the pinnacle in Shocker sports history in terms of overall success on the field of play but for right now count me #NotSatisfied.

[xazshox]

Recap

It's worth mentioning that this was the 1st time WSU ever beat Neb in a spring practice game. I bought a program & was amazed to see what kind of height Neb has in their lineup. Nine of the 12 girls on their roster are 6-2 or taller. Of those 9 girls, 5 are 6-3, & there is one girl, Morgan Broekhuis, who is a 6-5 Sr. Yesterday, the Eagle article about the game to be reported that Neb lost 3 All-Americans & their libero to graduation last spring. Their 2 frosh are a set of twins, Amber & Kadie Rolfzen. They hail from the same school where WSU's Chelsey Feekin came from - Papillon, Neb - Lavista HS. They were both 6-3, & excellent servers. As for Kelsey Robinson, the 6-2, 2012 SEC POY transfer from Tenn, she has one of the nastiest serves I've ever seen. She really gave WSU's back row defenders a workout!

[1972Shocker]

Time For a Self-Served Plate of Crow

I looked at the attendance for the Nebraska-Creighton match which was held at the NU Coliseum and I see that they drew 2,600 for their spring match.

Obviously my expectations for a significantly better crowd were not reasoanble and I will eat my crow-filled humble pie right after lunch.

[1972Shocker]

Their 2 frosh are a set of twins, Amber & Kadie Rolfzen. They hail from the same school where WSU's Chelsey Feekin came from - Papillon, Neb - Lavista HS. They were both 6-3, & excellent servers.

It was interesting to see Papillion, Nebraska leading the way with 3 players between the two teams. However, I don't think the Rolfzen twins went to the same hight school as Chelsey. Chelsey went to La Vista High School. The Rolfzen twins attend La Vista South High School.

[RoyalShock]

It was interesting to see Papillion, Nebraska leading the way with 3 players between the two teams. However, I don't think the Rolfzen twins went to the same hight school as Chelsey. Chelsey went to La Vista High School. The Rolfzen twins attend La Vista South High School.

Oh, well, if they attended a directional school, they must not be very good. ;)

[WuDrWu]

As for Kelsey Robinson, the 6-2, 2012 SEC POY transfer from Tenn, she has one of the nastiest serves I've ever seen. She really gave WSU's back row defenders a workout!

Watching the teams shake hands, I felt like the heights of the Nebraska girls were a bit exaggerated. Just my opinion.

Kelsey does have a nasty serve, and more so than anyone I can remember watching, she adjusts during her motion, to react to what the defense was doing. Twice I saw her change her delivery to hit a spot just vacated by a moving Shocker defender.

I don't know what to think about someone like Robinson transferring....for no big reason, she leaves UT for NU. Doesn't have to sit out (in fact, was enrolled at UT last fall...didn't even have to "sit out" a summer). Is this good for the sport?

Did Chelsey go to Lavista South or just plain ole Lavista, or is there even a difference? You could tell the match meant a lot to many of the girls, especially Chelsey.

The Huskers will get a lot better as they mature. But losing the coach's daughter (setter) Mancuso (she WAS Feekin's teammate in HS) and Hannah Werth, it's understandable that they are "struggling" early. Of course, struggling in their case means a top 15 team.

[WuDrWu]

The highlights are up at www.goshockers.com


Wow, did our girls play well? Let their play do the talking.......wow.

[1972Shocker]

I don't know what to think about someone like Robinson transferring....for no big reason, she leaves UT for NU. Doesn't have to sit out (in fact, was enrolled at UT last fall...didn't even have to "sit out" a summer). Is this good for the sport?

I was thinking about that myself. You don't often see that with an All-American. My guess is she wanted to go somewhere she thought she could win a National Championsip. I don't think that will happen for Nebraska next year.

The Shocks, of course, picked up Emily Stockman and Camri Zwiesler through the transfer route although they weren't All-Americans (at least at the time they transferred). I have mixed emotions about transfers not sitting out. On the one hand Coaches have freedom of movement so why shouldn't players so long as tampering is not involved. OTOH, seeing an All-American transfer for her senior year just doesn't seem right.

One of the teams we played this past season had a 2-time Conference POY transfer to a more prominent program. I think the parity in Womens VB is pretty good and getting better. The unrestricted transfer rules may work in favor of the traditional VB powers like Nebraska, Texas, Penn State and California schools.

[1972Shocker]

Did Chelsey go to Lavista South or just plain ole Lavista, or is there even a difference? You could tell the match meant a lot to many of the girls, especially Chelsey.

Their is a difference. Pappilion Lavista has been in its present loation since 1971, although its roots trace back to 1876. Pappillion LaVista South was opend in 2003. Not unlike what we have seen happen in Andover, Maize, Goddard and Lawrence.

And yes Chelsey went to JPO Lavista.