Wichita State Heads to Cal Poly for ShareSLO Mustang Challenge
The Wichita State University volleyball team (2-1) is scheduled to play a trio of matches at the Cal Poly ShareSLO Mustang Challenge Sept. 5-7 at the Robert A. Motts Athletic Center in San Luis Obispo, Calif. WSU is slated to face San Jose State in the opener Thursday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m. CT (4 p.m. PT) before taking on host Cal Poly Friday, Sept. 6, at 9 p.m. CT (7 p.m. PT), and North Texas Saturday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. CT (noon PT).
 
On the Web
All three of Wichita State's matches this weekend will be on the internet at GoShockers.com/listen with "The Voice of the Shockers" Mike Kennedy calling the action.
 
Quick Hits
• The Shockers went 2-1 in their 2019 regular season opening matches in the Penn State Classic Aug. 30-31 in University Park, Pa. WSU swept Holy Cross before downing Hofstra in five sets and falling to No. 8-ranked Penn State in straight sets.
• Through three matches, sophomore outside hitter Megan Taflinger leads the Shockers offensively, averaging 2.27 kills per set. Overall, the Leona Valley, Calif., native has 25 kills on 68 attempts with 11 errors for a .206 attack percentage.
• Freshman outside hitter Nicole Anderson had 21 kills on 70 attempts with just six errors in three matches for a .214 attack percentage in the Penn State Classic. The Richardson, Texas, native also tallied her first collegiate double-double with 10 kills and 16 digs in the win over Hofstra.
• Senior middle blocker Damadj Johnson hit a blistering .400 in the opening three matches of her Shocker career, posting 18 kills on 35 attempts with just four errors. In WSU's win over Holy Cross, Johnson hit .643 with nine kills on 14 attempts and zero errors.
• Junior middle blocker Emma Wright compiled a team-best 12 blocks in the opening trio of matches in her junior campaign. She tallied three solo blocks  and nine block assists with just one blocking error. In the five-set win over Hofstra, Wright tied her career-best with two solo blocks.
• Junior setter McKayla Wuensch had five service aces in her first three contests at Wichita State, including three in the victory over Hofstra.
• In her first collegiate matches, freshman setter Kayce Litzau led WSU with 53 assists in three matches. For the week, the Greendale, Wis., native averaged 4.82 assists per set.
• Senior libero/DS Kara Bown tallied a team-best 35 digs in the Penn State Classic, including 18 in the sweep of Holy Cross -- one shy of her  overall career-high of 19, and a career-best for three-set matches.
• Through three matches, the Shockers are averaging 10.5 kills, 9.7 assists, 0.8 aces, 13.4 digs and 1.6 blocks per set. Wichita State is hitting .182 with 116 kills in 340 attempts and 54 errors.
• 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.
• The Shockers welcome 11 newcomers this season, including eight freshmen and three transfers.
• Wichita State has never played at Penn State.
• The Shockers are picked seventh in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll.
• Wichita State is scheduled to face six teams that are ranked in the AVCA Preseason Top-25 Poll, including four in the top-10 (No. 2 Nebraska, No. 4 Texas, No. 8 Penn State, No. 9 BYU, No. 18 Creighton, No. 23 Cal Poly).
• 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
The Shockers are 9-7 all-time against the three teams:
San Jose State - 0-0
Cal Poly - 1-4
North Texas - 8-3
 
About San Jose State
The San Jose State Spartans are 1-2 entering the week after dropping two of three matches in the UC Davis Aggies Invitational Aug. 30-31. SJSU fell to Pacific, 3-1, and the host UC Davis, 3-0, Aug. 30, before downing Montana, 3-0...Through three contests, the Spartans are paced by sophomore middle blocker Haylee Nelson (27 kills, 2.7 kills/set, .316 attack pct.), sophomore setter Mamie Garard (51 assists, 5.10 assists/set, 18 digs) and sophomore libero Sarah Smevog (32 digs, 3.20 digs/set)...As a team, San Jose State is averaging 12.7 kills, 11.7 assists, 1.3 aces, 11.5 digs and one block per set...SJSU was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West preseason poll...The Spartans are under the direction of sixth season head coach Jolene Shepardson.
 
About Cal Poly
The Cal Poly Mustangs come into the week at 0-3 overall after losing a trio of matches in the University of Utah Tournament Aug. 30-31. Cal Poly fell to No. 7 Kentucky, 3-0, and Saint Mary's, 3-0, Aug. 30, prior to falling in five to host Utah Aug. 31...The Mustangs are receiving votes in the latest AVCA Poll...With three matches in the books, Cal Poly is paced by junior outside hitter Maia Dvoracek (32 kills, 2.91 kills/set, eight aces, 19 digs), sophomore setter Avalon DeNecochea (73 assists, 6.64 assists/set, 18 digs, eight block assists, 12 kills), senior libero/DS Mika Dickson (34 digs, 3.09 digs/set) and sophomore middle blocker Meredith Phillips (21 kills, .255 attack pct., one solo block, 15 block assists)...As a team, the Mustangs are averaging 10.6 kills, 10.2 assists, 1.6 aces, 13.4 digs and 2.1 blocks per set...Cal Poly, which capture the Big West title last season, was picked as the repeat favorite in the 2019 preseason poll...The Mustangs are under the leadership of first season head coach Caroline Walters.
 
About North Texas
The North Texas Mean Green enter the week with an overall tally of 2-1 after claiming victory in two of three matches in the North Texas Invite Aug. 30-31. UNT fell to Illinois State, 3-1, before defeating Pepperdine, 3-2, Aug. 30, and downed Tulsa, 3-1, Aug. 31...Through three contests, North Texas is paced by junior outside hitter Valerie Valerian (44 kills, 3.38 kills/set, .203 attack pct., 31 digs, eight block assists), junior setter Kaliegh Skopal (113 assists, 8.69 assists/set, 23 digs), freshman defensive specialist Aleeyah Galdeira (36 digs, 4.0 digs/set) and sophomore middle blocker Sarah Haeussler (26 kills, .429 attack pct., one solo block, 15 block assists)...As a team, the Mean Green are averaging 10.6 kills, 9.8 assists, 0.7 aces, 13.6 digs and 2.7 blocks per set...UNT was picked to finish fourth in the Conference USA preseason poll...North Texas is under the direction of seventh season head coach Andrew Palileo.
 
Last Meeting vs. Cal Poly
The 14th-ranked Cal Poly Mustangs claimed a 3-1 victory over the Wichita State volleyball team Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in the North Texas Challenge at the North Texas Volleyball Center. The Mustangs won by set scores of 25-21, 25-19, 22-25 and 25-19. Megan Taflinger pounded out 10 kills to go along with two service aces, three blocks and six digs to lead Wichita State. Kali Eaken added 24 assists, and Giorgia Civita posted 24 digs, respectively.
 
Last Meeting vs. North Texas
The Wichita State University volleyball team saw its 2018 season end after falling to North Texas, 3-1, in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) second round Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, inside the North Texas Volleyball Center. The set scores were 19-25, 26-24, 14-25 and 21-25. Megan Taflinger tallied 17 kills and hit .275 to lead Wichita State, while Tabitha Brown posted a double-double with 16 kills and 14 digs. Kora Kauling added 28 assists, and Giorgia Civita compiled 17 digs, respectively.
 
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), Sina 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.
 
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).
 
On the Horizon
Wichita State hosts the Shocker Volleyball Classic presented by Ashley HomeStore Nov. 12-14 at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers will face No. 13 BYU Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., VCU Friday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. and No. 3 Texas Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. Other matches in the classic are No. 13 BYU vs. No. 3 Texas at 4:30 p.m. Friday and VCU vs. No. 13 BYU at noon Saturday.