The RoundHouse | 2/26/2021 9:17:00 PM

 
Wichita State outside hitter Megan Taflinger coaches 13-year-olds in club volleyball, so she is equipped to consider nature vs. nurture on the matter of bruises, hustle and diving.
 
"There are just some girls that are willing to launch themselves on the floor," Taflinger. "There are others that are definitely more timid."
 
The Shockers are stocked with those willing to fly around this season and coach Chris Lamb is thrilled. He's got a team with a defensive identity. On Friday, the Shockers defeated SMU 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-19) at Koch Arena to remain unbeaten.
 
"We were really ready to be defensively good again," Taflinger said. "All good things come around when defensive players want to play hard."
 
The Shockers (8-0, 3-0 American Athletic Conference) are holding opponents to a .117 attack percentage, tops in the conference. No team has hit better than .200.
 
"We put a lot of time into it last spring, individual defense stuff, old-school stuff," Lamb said. "Last couple years, it's no doubt slipped. We had some work to do. We had to upgrade and we have."
 
The Shockers held SMU to a .107 attack percentage and limited SMU Jadyn Bauss to an .028 attack percentage and 2019 all-conference outside hitter Rachel Woulfe to eight kills and seven errors.
 
Wichita State recorded 14 blocks and redirected many more balls to keep the Mustangs (4-3, 0-3) from getting in an offensive rhythm most of the night. Sina Uluave recorded 21 digs to lead four Shockers with nine or more.
 
"There's not a ball we don't fight for," middle Brooke Smith. "We're persistent. Some of the blocking plays and defense that we do, it takes volleyball intelligence. You also need the hard work with it. Putting that together and it's a really good defense that we have."
 
Lamb said he simplified the defense this season to allow the Shockers to get good at one thing before considering adding in new looks and wrinkles. Uluave is giving the Shockers improved play at libero. Physical pin players help the aggressive blocking and six-rotation contributors such as Taflinger and Nicole Anderson are solid on the back row.
 
"Pretty much one basic defense and more study on that for the girls, more time," Lamb said. "Don't think so much about the stuff blocks when you think about our blocking. Look at all the touches we're getting and running them down. If you're going to block that way, you've got to have people ready to pursue."

Much of the defensive identity comes from team chemistry, the Shockers say. 
 
"We have a better connection on and off the court," Smith said. "I have more fun playing volleyball. I can trust them covering me. It's a good environment to be in, and I think that makes us play better."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.