The RoundHouse | 2/14/2019 10:15:00 AM

When McKayla Wuensch visited Wichita State, the volleyball coaches surprised her with their desire to dig into setting techniques and strategy. They sat down with her to watch video and offer critiques. 
 
"I've never watched film on a visit," she said. "They weren't afraid to jump right into things. They were just so honest about the type of season last season was, what they were looking for and what they needed. They didn't sugar coat anything."
 
Wuensch decided that approach meant the Shocker coaches would help her setting skills and chose Wichita State as her destination after two seasons at Nevada. Wuensch, from Algonquin, Ill., joins attacker Sophia Rohling, a freshman from Thayer, as spring additions to the roster. 
 
The Shockers, 14-18 in 2018, are early in their spring conditioning and individual practices. Full practices start in late February. 
 
Coach Chris Lamb remembered Wuensch from her club volleyball career. When she visited, he wanted to be clear about how she fit and how she needed to improve. She will join returning setter Kora Kauling and incoming freshman Kayce Litzau, who arrives in the summer, to compete at the position.
 
"I remember (Wuensch) being the right athlete," Lamb said. "Watching the tape we were able to get, she was far enough along as a setter that we thought we could get there. We're going to make her better, and she's going to make us better."
 
Wuensch played in 14 matches as a freshman for Nevada and 19 as a sophomore and will be a junior for the 2019 season with two seasons of eligibility remaining. When she watched video with the coaches, they discussed how Wichita State ran its offense and how she needed to improve in areas such as quick-hitters with the middle blockers.
 
"I loved how honest they were," she said. "To see how they run their offense was actually pretty cool because it reminded me of offenses I used to run in club and high school."
 
Rohling is ticketed for an interesting and busy spring. Lamb said he plans to try her as an attacker and at setter to get an idea for her possibilities. He is intrigued with her combination of size, skills and athletic ability. As a junior, Rohling jumped 5-foot-6 to win the Class 3A high jump title for Neodesha High School at Cessna Stadium.
 
"She walks in the door with a lot of talent," Lamb said. "She's a 6-foot-3 lefty with a nice, smooth arm and some nice feel and skill. Sophia's going to take part in passing, setting and attacking. At some point in her career, it would be great if she would be a part of all those things."
 
Rohling considered graduating early from high school and liked the idea when Shocker coaches made the suggestion in early November. Once she got the academic part in order, she seized the chance to prepare for the 2019 season five months earlier than most freshmen.
 
Not without a few regrets, however. Giving up a chance to repeat in the high jump is tough. Missing prom didn't bother her.
 
"We had this deep conversation about the pros and cons of going and then thinking about who I had to say goodbye started making me cry at little bit," she said. "Then we realized this is for the best."
 
Rohling's mother, Deanna, coached high school volleyball. Sisters Brittany (William Penn) and Belinda (Newman) played in college. Lamb is certain their influences helped Rohling develop skill that is unusual for a small-town volleyball player. 
 
"I think them having gone through that has helped me so much," Rohling said. "They've already seen what it's like and they've been pushing me."
 
After an idle period, the early conditioning sessions were tough for Rohling. She impressed Lamb with quickly preparing for the next one.
 
"You can find talent all over the place,'' he said. "You don't find skill all over the place. To find a skilled player in Neodesha, Kan., I would say she's ahead of the curve. I can't tell you how much I like that she's here already and taking part in strength and conditioning and training."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.