The RoundHouse | 11/26/2017 10:38:00 PM

The NCAA's evaluation and Wichita State's ambition finally matched.
 
The Shockers, again, believe they are one of the nation's top 15 (or better) volleyball teams and capable of playing to that level in a field of 64 teams. This year, they can prove it after breaking through one of the sport's thickest glass ceilings.
 
Wichita State will host the first- and second-rounds of the NCAA Tournament starting Friday at Koch Arena. ESPNU's screen said so early in Sunday's selection show. The crowd at the Koch Arena Champions Club cheered and clapped when Wichita State popped up as the No. 16 seed and then, moments later, as a host.
 
Hugs, high-fives and fist-pumps all around. If you're not in a Power 5 conference or if you don't practice close to the Pacific Ocean, this is a rare moment.
 
"Pure excitement," Wichita State senior Abbie Lehman said. "Joy."
 
Joy that Koch Arena – finally – gets to host this spotlight. Excitement that six seniors will play again in Koch Arena. Joy that coach Chris Lamb's unlikely quest to build a volleyball power at Wichita State reached another landmark. Excitement that Shocker volleyball gets a chance to win over more fans with the NCAA's seal of approval this weekend.
 
And joy that the path to advancement in the bracket is not brick-walled by four-time NCAA champion Nebraska.
 
A year ago, the NCAA sent the Shockers to Nebraska for a fifth time, frustrating Lamb because of the feeling of inevitability and the possibilities it robbed from his team. Nobody escapes Nebraska in the second round and even the toughest competitors expect their season to end that weekend. The Shockers met the Huskers three times in NCAA play and haven't won a set.
 
"The feeling in the room felt defeated the second that was announced (in 2016)," Wichita State senior Mikaela Raudsepp said. "To have this at our house, it's huge."
 
It is a first for Wichita State, which is making its 11^th NCAA appearance. The Shockers considered themselves worthy hosts in 2008 and 2010 and traveled. Other seasons – notably 2015 and 2016 – the NCAA dampened their ambitions with trips to national powerhouses for the opening weekend.
 
"I'm excited that we're not standing in front of another overall No. 1 seed on their home floor yet again," Lamb said. "
 
In a sport where geography plays a significant role in placement, fairness often takes a beating. The 32nd-best team can benefit from an easier path than the 17^th-best team, if geography breaks in its favor. Wichita State, located in the middle of big-time volleyball territory and at a disadvantage in conference strength, rarely gets a favorable bracket.
 
"Being in the NCAA Tournament, it's that same excitement, but the fact it's at home is a whole 'nother level," Lehman said.
 
The Shockers (28-3) bumped up to No. 9 in the NCAA power rankings (RPI) on Monday and unofficial ratings had them No. 14 on Sunday. It helped when Kansas, Colorado and Southern California, all close to WSU in the RPI, lost their season finale. Wichita State's resume also included a 20-match win streak, a win over No. 9 seed Creighton and no bad losses.
 
"We went on a nice winning streak and I can see (the committee) sitting back and going 'Well, with so many things so tight, we're going to give Wichita a shot,'" Lamb said. "The volleyball gods, I think, were on our side a little bit."
 
None of this means that Wichita State's path to the Sweet 16 is smooth or easy. Realistic, definitely. Go no further than that and remember that Kansas and Missouri are also plotting their roads to the second weekend.

In 2012, the Shockers advanced to their lone Sweet 16 by winning at Kansas, a season in which geography worked in Wichita State's favor.
 
Kansas (22-7) advanced to the Final Four in 2015 and it must feel the same kind of relief as Wichita State at avoiding a trip to fifth-seeded Nebraska. Missouri (20-11) is making its third consecutive NCAA appearance after finishing third in the SEC behind top-four seeds Florida and Kentucky.
 
The Shockers practice on Monday and any thoughts of advancing past Saturday are dangerous. Radford (25-4) owns a win over Arizona, which even in a down year is an attention-grabber.
 
On Sunday, however, the Shockers and Lamb deserved to savor their accomplishment and consider the possibilities of the road ahead, one that doesn't go through Lincoln, Neb.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.