The RoundHouse | 9/10/2018 8:10:00 AM

 
Another weekend trip and another ranked opponent awaits Wichita State volleyball.
 
Wichita State is 4-4 entering its final non-conference weekend, the North Texas Challenge in Denton. Three of the losses are to nationally ranked teams and the fourth is to Iowa State, which resided one spot outside the AVCA top 25 last week.
 
Those losses don't fatally damage an NCAA Tournament at-large resume. What's missing is an attention-grabbing win. Wichita State's path to an at-large spot – if needed – is to pile up wins in the American Athletic Conference and hopes wins over opponents such as James Madison, VCU and West Virginia gain strength. 
 
The North Texas Challenge offers the Shockers one more shot at a marquee opponent – No. 22 Cal Poly (7-1) is certain to rise in the rankings after two wins over No. 9 UCLA last week.
 
A 3-0 weekend – Wichita State also plays Stephen F. Austin (9-2) and host North Texas (3-8) – puts the Shockers in a solid spot entering conference play. Wichita State plays SFA and North Texas on Friday and Cal Poly on Saturday.
 
The Mustangs defeated Wichita State 3-2 last season. The memory Shocker coach Chris Lamb is searching for came in 2008. The Shockers debuted freshman setter Mary Elizabeth Hooper against No. 10 Cal Poly and won 3-2 in Norman, Okla., to start a weekend that also featured wins over Oklahoma and Michigan State. 
 
Wichita State golf starts the fall schedule on Monday (Sept. 10).
 
The Shocker women move on without Taryn Torgerson, last spring's medalist at the American Athletic Conference Championships. They play in the 12-team Payne Stewart Invitational in Springfield, Mo.
 
That opens a four-tournament fall designed to test the Shockers geographically. National rankings (and potential NCAA at-large bids) are determined by Golfstat's computer rankings. The Shockers travel to Idaho and South Carolina to face teams outside the Midwest with the goal of earning head-to-head victories. 
 
"If we can get out of our region and have a good tournament against teams from other regions, it will enhance our ability to maintain a strong national ranking," he said. "If we go out to the West and beat some teams that don't have a chance to beat us (in another tournament), that's a big deal."
 
Laine Evans finished ninth in the American meet last spring and McCurdy expects her to step into more of a leadership spot as a senior.
 
"She seems very fit and ready to do it," McCurdy said. "Her work ethic is really what drives the boat. She's done a great job of improving area of weakness. If the golf course dictates that she play a different way, she's more capable of doing that. If the wind comes up, she knows how to play knock-down shots."
 
The Wichita State men open in the Marshall Invitational in Huntington, W.V. Seniors Yannik Emmert, the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Golfer of the Year, and Adrien Michellod return. Michellod finished 23^rdin last spring's American tournament, highest among returning Shockers.
 
Freshmen Brock Polhill and Dawson Lewis shot their way to the five-man roster for the opening tournament through the fall's six qualifying rounds.
 
The Shockers finished 10th in the 10-team American last spring. Coaches like the early returns on fall practice pointing toward a better performance.
 
Baseball and softball continue fall practices after both started full workouts last week. Softball opens its eight-game scrimmage schedule on Sept. 22 vs. Avila at Wilkins Stadium.