Volleyball | 8/24/2021 4:13:00 PM

 
Wichita State opens volleyball season on Friday with two matches in Jonesboro, Ark. – Missouri State (10 a.m.) and UT Martin (5 p.m.).
 
The Shockers (9-8 last season, 4-6 American Athletic Conference) return five women who played in 11 or more of the 17 matches.
 
Right-side Sophia Rohling earned second-team all-conference honors and setter Kayce Litzau led the Shockers with 375 assists. Left Brylee Kelly contributed 91 kills in 11 matches and libero Lily Liekweg ranked second on the team with 179 digs.
 
Wichita State opens its home schedule on Sept. 17 with the Shocker Volleyball Classic, which includes matches against South Dakota, Wyoming and Creighton, the preseason Big East favorite. Conference play begins at Tulane on Sept. 24.
 
Five questions for the Shockers:
 
How is the setter position working out?
 
Litzau returns with two seasons of experience, largely in a two-setter system. Coach Chris Lamb expects to play a 5-1 this season and is pleased with his experienced options. Litzau, Lauren Phillips, who redshirted last season, and Hailey Plugge, who played in two matches last spring, will all get chances.
 
"All three have grown since last spring," Lamb said. "Part of it was the three weeks the girls chose to train after our season. I think it was very liberating for them to feel like it was their team."
 
Litzau, Lamb said, picked up her performance in recent practices.
 
"She's more vocal now and she's more of a presence," Lamb said. "By nature, this is a quiet group and I'd like them to be a little more obvious to the players. I want them to stand out a little bit more, be heard."
 
What role will newcomer Kailin Newsome play as a left-side attacker?
 
Newsome is a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana, where she earned Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and all-conference honors after totaling 280 kills in 16 matches. The Lions went 11-5, 9-3 in the conference.
 
"What we liked about Kailin is that she, as a freshman, carried her team to a good season and was arguably the player of the year in her league," Lamb said. "What's great about Kailin is her savvy. She's got a nice arm. She's got good vision. And she plays with range, left to right, short to deep."
 
With continued work, Lamb sees Newsome and returner Morgan Weber as possible six-rotation pin players.
 
Kelly, Weber and returner Skylar Goering will join Newsome on the left.
 
"I'm so proud of Skylar – she is scoring on both pins, taking great approaches, defense is improving a ton," Lamb said.
 
What's next for Sophia Rohling?
 
Rohling led the Shockers with 179 kills and an average of 2.7 a set, while hitting. 260.
 
Her heavy workload will continue. Opposing blockers are well aware.
 
"She's going to have to learn to ride the waves, because teams are going to be preparing for her and doing everything they can to deal with her," Lamb said. "It's her taking deep breaths, short memory, let some things roll off and get onto the next play. We're putting a lot on her plate."
 
What will the back row look like this season?
 
A move to a 5-1 will give Wichita State's defensive specialists more responsibility and Lamb believes that group will respond.
 
"I love the army of littles we have right now," he said. "We are a hustling, hungry, fun bunch."
 
Liekweg will likely lead off at libero, a spot she earned late last spring.
 
Brynn Stansberry played in seven matches last season, her first as a Shocker. Kyle Marneris returns after redshirting and newcomers Annalie Heliste and Lara Uyar complete the group.
 
What stands out about the schedule?
 
Lamb regards the non-conference games as preparation for the conference schedule in a stronger way this season. Travel is limited to bus trips. In addition to the home tournament, the Kansas Invitational in September offers chances to play good competition with matches against the Jayhawks, Kent State and Delaware.
 
"For them to land Kent State and Delaware, which are winners, that was icing on the cake," Lamb said. "Given the puzzle we had to solve, I think it turned out pretty good."
 
In the American, UCF is the unanimous favorite in the coaches poll. The Knights won three straight titles and returns outside hitter McKenna Melville, the preseason Player of the Year. The American will be loaded with experience this season with all 12 all-conference selections back for another season.
 
Houston, Wichita State's second opponent on its opening road trip, is picked second with SMU third. The Shockers are picked eighth in the 11-team conference.
 
The Shockers finish conference play with of six of their final eight matches at home.
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.