Shocks at Loyola (Friday) and Bradley (Saturday)

[1972Shocker]

WSU’s volleyball team makes its final regular-season road trip this weekend trying to stay in first place in the MVC.
The Shockers (21-7, 12-2 MVC) play at Loyola (19-8, 8-6) on Friday and Bradley (6-20, 1-13) on Saturday. WSU swept Bradley and defeated Loyola in five sets in October.

WSU coach Chris Lamb said he will continue to use both his one-setter and two-setter offenses. Last weekend, he switched from the 6-2 to the 5-1 in Friday’s 3-1 win over Drake and stuck with it in a sweep of Northern Iowa.

“The 6-2 is doing well, too,” Lamb said. “It depends on the situation.”

Loyola is fighting with Drake and Indiana State for the sixth and final spot in the MVC Tournament. WSU, Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Missouri State and Northern Iowa have clinched spots in the tournament, which starts Nov. 26 at Missouri State.

Second-place SIU (20-7, 11-3) is home this weekend against Illinois State and Indiana State. On Nov. 21, the Salukis visit Koch Arena.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/sports/college...#storylink=cpy

Both matches will be available to view (either live or on replay) on ESPN3

[1972Shocker]

Both matches will be available to view (either live or on replay) on ESPN3.

A win over Loyola on Friday would go a very long way towards securing a 1st round bye as one of the Top 2 seeds in the Valley post season Tournament.

While the Shockers can not take anything for granted a lost to last place Bradley on Saturday would be an unexpected and gargantuan upset.

I see Lambo is keeping the possibility of playing either the 6-2 or the 5-1. Regardless of what his actual intent is for this weekend giving the Shocker opponents something else to have to think about in their match preparation is a good move.

Looks like Chris Solwecki will handle the internet audio broadcast of the match in Mike's absence due to the men's BB game.

Shocker Match Notes

[flyingMoose]

The Shockers (21-7, 12-2 MVC) play at Loyola (19-8, 8-6) on Friday

PLEASE NOTE: This is a 4pm start time.

[WuDrWu]

So high noon WBB at CU, 400pm at Loyola, 7PM at the Chuck.

That's a full Friday.

[JayJ79]

looks like about 50 people in the crowd at Loyola (which I suppose isn't surprising for a 4 pm match on a Friday)

[1972Shocker]

Shocks take Set 1 25-18 despite only getting 11 kills. Abbie and Katie combined for only 1 kill on their 1st 14 attacks before Abbie put way points 23 and 24 for the Shocks.

The big thing for the Shocks is that Morgan Reardon had only 2 kills with 6 attack errors on 16 swings. The Shocks also outblocked Loyola 5 to 1.

[WuDrWu]

Should have been easier, but it seems the Shocks have made an early statement that they are a little different team than the one Loyola had match point against in the 316.

Good start!

[WuDrWu]

The momentum swings in volleyball are unmatched in sports. I cannot believe how poorly we're playing this set. It's unreal. The passing is awful and the decision making is worse.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks jumped out to an early 5 point lead at 8-3 but were unable to sustain the pressure and dropped the 2nd set 23-25 despite fighting off 2 set points to tie the match at 1-1.

Shocks don't seem to be as sharp as they were at home last weekend.

[1972Shocker]

Shocks take 2-1 lead with a 25-21 win in Set 3. Still not playing their best but doing just enough. Hopefully they can end this in 4.

[flyingMoose]

Ramblers in the fourth set, 25-21. On to set five.

[flyingMoose]

From down 4-9, the Shockers take a 10-9 lead and Loyola burns its second TO.

[shocksrbest]

WOW...5 setter goes to the Shocks after trailing most of the 5th set. Ladies pull it out!!!

[flyingMoose]

WOW...5 setter goes to the Shocks after trailing most of the 5th set. Ladies pull it out!!!

At 13-13, a Rambler service error and hitting error give the Shocks a 15-13 set and the match.

Post-game comments:
Lambo thought the match was about us. With the early start, there was no match-day practice (a long October was also a factor). Shimen, Jody and Hannah have kind of hit the wall and can't get anything to go for them. He said Shimen came back in the fourth set, Emily was doing all she could, Mikaela was up, down and then up. Like all teams, the Ramblers were doing everything they could to take Abbie out of it.

[flyingMoose]

Other Friday Scores

Southern Illinois 3-0 Illinois State
20, 19, 22

Bradley 0-3 Missouri State
18, 17, 16

Evansville 1-3 Indiana State
17, (17), 23, 23

Travel partners Northern Iowa and Drake play in Des Moines tomorrow.