The RoundHouse | 11/7/2021 3:32:00 PM

 
 
Chris Lamb's thoughts went back to his first season at Wichita State, when he started to build a program and a difficult climb up the standings. He fondly remembers the final match of 2000, a sweep of Drake that stands out because it represents practice, commitment and improvement.
 
"We kept getting better," he said.
 
On Sunday, Wichita State swept Tulane (25-22, 25-23, 26-24) at Koch Arena and, 21 years later, Lamb feels that way again about his team after avenging a loss.
 
Drake swept the Shockers early in the 2000 season. Tulane defeated the Shockers in the American Athletic Conference opener in September in four.
 
The Shockers (15-8, 9-5 American) believe they are much better team, especially defensively and in serve-and-pass, than the team that started the American schedule 0-3. They showed that over the weekend by taking Houston, which swept the Shockers in September, to five sets before losing Friday, and sweeping the Green Wave (15-11, 8-6).

"It shows our growth compared to last time," Shocker right-side Sophia Rohling said. "To go in and beat them in three really shows our improvement."
 
Left Brylee Kelly led the Shockers with 11 kills and two service aces. Rohling capped a strong weekend with nine kills and hit .350 after denting Houston for a season-high 19 kills on Friday. Left Morgan Weber contributed 13 digs and an ace.
 
Setter Kayce Litzau, who also had two aces, handed out 35 assists and expertly worked slides with her middles and Rohling. Stout finished with eight kills, three digs and three blocks.
 
 

Litzau for the lead!@kayce_litzau x @ESPNPlus

📺: https://t.co/M7T1wNuVIE pic.twitter.com/1WBmdJRr6t

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) November 7, 2021

The Shockers found significance in finishing off Tulane – which had won three straight and four of five in the series – in three. They trailed 10-4 early in Sunday's final set. Tulane led 18-16, 21-20 and 24-23. The Shockers found ways to end it without giving the Green Wave hope.
 
"One of the key components to winning this match was the frustration and being able to handle that really well," middle Morgan Stout said.
 
Lamb wants the win to help establish a hierarchy that flows into next season.
 
"There's some team that you want them to know that you beat them, because you're going to see a lot of those kids again," he said. "You want to start putting teams behind us. Tulane's an older team. We were so close last year at their place. We were up in game one (earlier this season) and up big in game two and the bottom fell out. It needed to happen."
 
Lamb pointed to defensive improvements that limited Tulane outside hitter Lexie Douglas to three kills and a negative.211 attack percentage as important. Tulane middle Anna Davis, a sophomore, recorded 16 kills and hit .517 in the first meeting. On Sunday, she recorded eight kills and hit .389.
 
"We are proof that our work pays off," Lamb said. "We're evolving. I'm glad we keep pecking away at it."
 
The Shockers picked up a crucial edge in a close match in the serve-and-pass game. They totaled seven aces, five more than Tulane. Three Green Wave committed nine service errors, three more than Wichita State.
 
 

Taking control of this one.@nat_1050 and @RohlingSophia deny the swing as we stretch the lead in set two!

📺: https://t.co/M7T1wNuVIE pic.twitter.com/W7AjG11Fhm

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) November 7, 2021

Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.