WICHITA, Kan. – For the second time in three days, Wichita State clawed back from a two-sets-to-one deficit, toppling first-place Cincinnati 25-23, 19-25, 21-25, 23-25, 15-10 on Sunday afternoon at Koch Arena.
 
The Shockers have now won five straight matches, their longest winning streak since an 8-0 start to the 2020 campaign. WSU improved to 6-1 on the season in five-set matches.
 
Wichita State (11-6, 5-3) took a hard-fought set one in which both teams hit exactly .178. Five kills from Sophie Childs and four from Brylee Kelly gave the Shockers a boost after Cincinnati (11-5, 6-2) sprinted out to a quick 6-1 lead. Four straight Cincinnati attack errors turned an 11-11 tie into a 15-11 lead, and the Shockers fought off a late surge from the Bearcats down the stretch to claim the set.
 
After a back-and-forth beginning to the second set that was deadlocked at 10-10, Cincinnati scored seven of the next eight points to grab control. Maria Mallon racked up five kills in the set for the Bearcats, who maintained at least a five-point margin the rest of the way.
 
Cincinnati cruised out to a 20-11 lead in the third before Wichita State began to find a rhythm. The Shockers snatched six of the next seven points, getting a pair of kills from Kelly and Morgan Stout to trim the lead to 21-16. A Kelly service ace got WSU within 23-20, but two kills from the Bearcats Kailea Carrier put the set away.
 
The fourth set proved to be the tightest stanza of the afternoon, as neither side could grab a lead of more than three points at any juncture. Kayce Litzau delivered several crucial plays for WSU, providing five kills, eight assists and three digs in the set to spearhead the Shockers offense. Her kill ultimately won the set 25-23 to force a fifth and deciding period.
 
Following a script that has played out several times over the last two weeks, WSU staked their claim to an early lead in the fifth set. Two timely aces from Lily Liekweg made it 4-0, and a pair of Childs kills ballooned the lead to 9-2. Cincinnati chipped away to get within 10-6, but the Shockers traded points the rest of the way to secure the win. Kelly's 12th kill of the afternoon was the match-winner.
 
Childs led WSU with 14 kills, one shy of her career high. Litzau compiled 43 assists, a career-best 19 digs and a career-best seven kills. Stout had a career-high 10 kills and Natalie Foster added 12 in a balanced offensive effort.
 
Liekweg and Bryn Stansberry solidified things defensively with 14 and 13 digs, respectively.
 
Wichita State is on the road for the next four matches, beginning on Wednesday night at Tulsa. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 PM and can be streamed live on ESPN+.