Scene Setter
The Wichita State volleyball team continues American Athletic Conference play with a pair of matches at Tulane and Houston Friday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 3. The Shockers will play Tulane in New Orleans Friday at 7 p.m. before heading to Houston, Texas, for a 1 p.m. contest vs. Houston Sunday.
 
Quick Hits
• The Shockers enter the week at 6-16 overall and 3-7 in The American after splitting a pair of road matches Oct. 25 and 27. WSU downed UConn, 3-1, Oct. 25 in Storrs, Conn., before being swept by Temple, 3-0, Oct. 27 in Philadelphia.
• Through 22 matches, sophomore outside hitter Megan Taflinger leads the Shockers offensively, averaging 2.81 kills per set. Overall, the Leona Valley, Calif., native has 233 kills on 710 attempts with 96 errors for a .193 attack percentage. Senior defensive specialist Kara Bown has a team-best 18 service aces.
• Junior setter McKayla Wuensch is averaging a team-best 5.84 assists per set, while Bown is averaging a team-high 3.25 digs per set, and junior middle blocker Brooke Smith is averaging a team-best 1.17 blocks per set with four block solos and 30 block assists.
 • Through 22 matches, the Shockers are averaging 11.1 kills, 10.5 assists, 0.9 aces, 14.6 digs and two blocks per set. Wichita State is hitting .171 with 925 kills in 2,821 attempts and 444 errors.
• After 10 conference contests, Smith is hitting a team-best .292 with 37 kills on 96 attempts and nine errors. Wuensch has a team-best 220 assists (7.86 assists/set) in conference action, while freshman libero Arianna Arjomand has a team-high 121 digs (3.18 digs/set), and Smith has a team-best 33 blocks (four block solos, 29 block assists).
• Freshman outside hitter Sinalauli'i Uluave tallied her third double-double of 2019 with a career-best 17 kills and 14 digs, and hit a career-high .333 in Wichita State's victory at UConn Oct. 25.
• Freshman setter Kayce Litzau compiled a career-best 26 assists at UConn Oct. 25.
• Freshman opposite hitter Sophia Rohling tallied a career-high 13 kills and hit a career-best .360 in the Shockers' match at Temple Oct. 27.
• The Shockers hit a season-best .363 with 41 kills on 102 attempts and only four errors in the sweep of USF Oct. 20. WSU had just one attacking error in the first two sets, hitting a blistering .567 (17-0-30) in set one and .281 in set two (10-1-32).
• Senior middle blocker Damadj Johnson hit a scorching .818 (career-best and tied for 6th on WSU match records list) with nine kills on 11 attempts and zero errors vs. USF Oct. 20.
• Wright hit a career-best .538 with 16 kills on 26 attempts and only two errors in the Shockers' five-set triumph at Memphis Oct. 4.
• Redshirt freshman Brylee Kelly posted a career-high 14 kills at Memphis Oct. 4, before tying her career-best with a .333 (13-3-30) attack percentage at SMU Oct. 6.
• Wuensch compiled a career-high 49 assists at Memphis Oct. 4, and had a career-best 22 digs vs. Tulane Oct. 13.
• Arjomand tallied a career-high 25 digs against Tulane Oct. 13.
• Bown had a career-best five service aces vs. Tulane Oct. 13.
• Redshirt freshman middle blocker Chinelo Ogogor compiled a career-best eight blocks (one block solo, seven block assists) vs. Tulane Oct. 13.
• In her first match back from an injury suffered against San Jose State Sept. 5, Johnson tied her career-best with a match-high 10 blocks (two block solos, eight block assists) at Tulsa Sept. 27.
• Bown posted a career-high 25 digs at Tulsa Sept. 27.
• Bown was named to the Creighton Classic All-Tournament Team. The Lincoln, Neb., native posted 23 digs and three aces in WSU's match vs. Wyoming Sept. 20 in Omaha.
• Wright tallied a career-best eight block assists vs. Wyoming Sept. 20.
• Taflinger and Uluave were named to the Shocker Volleyball Classic Presented by Ashley HomeStore All-Tournament Team.
• Wichita State faced five AVCA top-15 teams (Nebraska, Texas, Penn State, BYU, Creighton) in its non-conference schedule.
• Third-ranked Texas marked the highest-ranked opponent to ever visit Charles Koch Arena. The previous highest-ranked team to come to the arena was No. 6 Washington in 2004.
• Head Coach Chris Lamb is in his 20th season with the Shockers
• WSU returns two starters from last season in junior middle blocker Emma Wright and sophomore outside hitter Megan Taflinger. Junior libero Giorgia Civita also returns, but will miss the 2019 season due to injury.
• Wichita State welcomes 11 newcomers this season, including eight freshmen and three transfers.
• WSU led The American and ranked 18th in the country in overall attendance last season, averaging 2,177 fans over their 10 home matches. The Shockers have been ranked in the top-25 for attendance for 14 straight seasons.
• WSU has won four conference tournament titles (2004, 2013, 2015, 2016).
• The Shockers have won seven conference regular-season championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017).
• Giorgia Civita was named The American Libero of the Year last season. She was also voted first team all-conference and AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region.
 
Series History
Wichita State is 5-7 all-time against Tulane and Houston. In The American, the Shockers are 3-4 vs. the two programs.
Tulane - 2-2 (2-1 American)
Houston - 3-5 (1-3 American)
 
About Tulane
The Tulane University Green Wave enter the weekend at 16-7 overall and 6-4 in The American after splitting two matches in Florida Oct. 25 and 27, sweeping USF, 3-0, in Tampa Oct. 25 prior to falling to UCF, 3-1, in Orlando Oct. 27...Through 23 matches, Tulane is paced by junior outside hitter Lexie Douglas (250 kills, 2.75 kills/set, 28 aces, 243 digs, 2.67 digs/set, two block solos, 45 block assists), sophomore setter Amanda Giardina (459 assists, 5.16 assists/set, 11 aces, 165 digs), senior libero Kaylie McHugh (406 digs, 4.51 digs/set, 28 aces, 115 assists) and sophomore middle hitter Kayla Dinkins (12 block solos, 115 block assists, 1.46 blocks/set, 189 kills, 2.17 kills/set, .312 attack pct.)...Dinkins leads the conference in blocks per set, and ranks fifth in the nation in total blocks (127)...The Green Wave were picked third in The American preseason poll...Tulane is under the direction of fourth season head coach Jim Barnes.
 
About Houston
The University of Houston Cougars enter the weekend at 14-11 overall and 8-2 in The American after splitting two matches in Florida Oct. 25 and 27, losing at UCF in Orlando, 3-0, before downing USF, 3-2, in Tampa Oct. 27...Through 25 matches, the Cougars are led by freshman outside hitter Abbie Jackson (278 kills, 3.43 kills/set, 25 aces, one block solo, 18 block assists), junior setter Abby Irvine (909 assists, 8.42 assists/set, 22 aces, 268 digs, 2.48 digs/set, one block solo, 21  block assists), senior DS/libero Katie Karbo (538 digs, 5.08 digs/set, 15 aces, 95 assists) and freshman middle blocker Rachel Tullos (48 block solos, 86 block assists, 109 kills)...Karbo leads the conference and is third in the nation in total digs...The Cougars rank second in the country in total attacks (4,007), third in digs (1,642), and seventh in kills (1,280)...Houston was picked to finish 10th in The American preseason poll...The Cougars are led by first season head coach David Rehr.
 
Last Meeting vs. Tulane
The Tulane University Green Wave used a late run in the fifth set to inch past the Wichita State University volleyball team, 3-2, on Sunday, Oct. 13, at Charles Koch Arena. The set scores were 25-27, 22-25, 25-17, 27-25 and 15-11.
 
Sophomore Megan Taflinger posted a match-high 17 kills, while redshirt freshman Chinelo Ogogor (11) and junior Brooke Smith (10) finished with double-digit kills, as well. Ogogor's 11 kills marked a career-best.
 
Junior McKayla Wuensch posted her second straight double-double, tallying 46 assists to go along with a career-best 22 digs, and freshman Arianna Arjomand (25 digs) and senior Kara Bown (five service aces) also had career-highs.
 
The Green Wave outhit Wichita State, .170 to .114, and tallied a 63-59 advantage in total kills, in addition to a 16-12 edge in total blocks.
 
Lexie Douglas finished with 15 kills, and Kayla Dinkins had a match-high 10 blocks (one block solo, nine block assists), pacing Tulane.
 
Last Meeting vs. Houston
Megan Taflinger had a season-high 20 kills, but it wasn't enough, as the Houston Cougars defeated the Wichita State University volleyball team, 3-1, Friday night, Oct. 11, at Charles Koch Arena. The set scores were 25-21, 20-25, 15-25 and 16-25.
 
Taflinger hit a blistering .900 in the Shockers opening set victory, tallying nine kills on 10 attempts with zero errors, before finishing the contest hitting .275 with 20 kills on 51 attempts and six miscues.
 
Junior McKayla Wuensch added a double-double with 30 assists and 12 digs, while freshman Arianna Arjomand compiled a season-best 15 digs, respectively.
 
The Shockers had a 46-44 edge in assists and 79-68 advantage in digs for the match, but were outhit by Houston, .229 to .132, and out-blocked 12-4.
 
Abbie Jackson tallied 16 kills and hit .375, while Rachel Tulios compiled a match-high seven blocks, and Abby Irvine had a match-best 39 assists, pacing the Cougars.
 
New-Look
Wichita State returns just two starters in 2019 in junior middle blocker Emma Wright and sophomore outside hitter Megan Taflinger. WSU has 11 newcomers this season, including freshmen Skylar Goering (outside hitter), Kayce Litzau (setter), Nicole Anderson (outside hitter), Arianna Arjomand (libero/DS), Sinalauli'i Uluave (outside hitter), Sophia Rohling (opposite), Shea Lauria (libero/DS) and Lily Liekweg (libero/DS), and transfers Lexi Hogan (outside hitter), McKayla Wuensch (setter) and Damadj Johnson (middle blocker).
 
International History
Junior libero Giorgia Civita returns to the team in 2019. Civita is from Milan, Italy and is just the seventh international player to play for the Shockers. Others include Kim Henry (1989-92) from Canada, Swee Ng (1992) from Malaysia, Marsha Van Cedar (1994-95) from Canada, Tomoko Matsuda (1996) from Japan, Lucia Zhanje (2000) from Zimbabwe and Shimen Fayad (2014-15) from Canada. One other international player was on the roster in 1992, but never played in a match (Tamie Bearup, Italy).
 
Lamb Returns for 20th Season
Head coach Chris Lamb, five-time conference Coach of the Year and 2017 National Coach of the Year, returns for his 20th season after guiding the Shockers to at least 20 wins in 15 of the last 16 seasons. In 2011, he became the winningest coach in Shocker volleyball history and in 2017 he won his 400th career match.
 
Practice Schedule
(*schedule subject to change)
The Shockers will practice in the Aetna Multi-Purpose Center Tuesday-Thursday from 1:30-4:30 p.m. On the day before a home match, the team will practice on Devlin Court.
 
The Chris Lamb Radio Show
(*schedule subject to change)
The Chris Lamb Radio Show will take place Monday's throughout the season live from AJ's Sports Grill at The Alley in Wichita. The show will air on 97.5 FM and 1240 AM KFH radio. Mike Kennedy will host the show. A full show schedule is available at GoShockers.com.
 
On the Horizon
Wichita State returns home to Charles Koch Arena for conference tilts vs. SMU and Memphis Friday, Nov. 8, and Sunday, Nov. 10.
 
2018 Review
Wichita State advanced to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, qualifying for the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). WSU finished the 2018 season with a 14-18 overall record and went 8-10 in American Athletic Conference play. The Shockers played the fourth-toughest schedule in all of NCAA Division I volleyball, including five matches against AVCA Top-25 opponents. Sophomore libero Giorgia Civita was voted American Libero of the Year, first team all-conference and AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region. A native of Milan, Italy, Civita rewrote the Wichita State volleyball record books in 2018, compiling single-season records for both digs (728) and digs per set (5.78).