The RoundHouse | 9/17/2021 10:46:00 PM

 
Wichita State setter Kayce Litzau can't remember ending a match with a service ace, although she can't rule it out over hundreds she played in club and high school.
 
She will remember Friday's ace that ended a five-set struggle with South Dakota. Her serve gave Wichita State a 15-13 victory at Koch Arena, squashing a rally by the Coyotes that started when they trailed 13-8.
 
Then the serving game switched dramatically to the Shockers (6-1). A service error by South Dakota's Madison Jurgens gave the Shockers a 14-13 lead and sent Litzau to the service line.
 
"It's a big moment, but you just have to trust your training and know that you're put in that situation because you're good in that situation," Litzau said. "Take it and make the most out of it. That's what I did."
 
South Dakota's Elizabeth Juhnke couldn't handle Litzau's serve and when the volleyball hit the court, the Shockers added another bit of confidence to their resume. They are 3-0 in five set matches, which tells coach Chris Lamb his team is growing its resilience. Wichita State plays Wyoming (10 a.m.) and No. 17 Creighton (7 p.m.) in the Shocker Volleyball Classic on Saturday at Koch Arena.
 
We're starting to be able to make adjustments with our very, very young team," he said. "There's 50 things I might want to do out there, and we're on No. 4. We just beat another old team. All we do is play old, experienced teams."
 
The Coyotes (3-4) showed that experience – eight juniors and seniors in the rotation – by rallying after Wichita State won the first and third sets. The Shockers led 13-8 in the fifth before the Coyotes called timeout and rallied again to tie it 13-all.
 
"We're still so young, which Lambo says all the time, but it shows that we've still got grit and we can fight," outside hitter Brylee Kelly said. "We were a little rattled, but then we got in the huddle and composed ourselves."
 
The Shockers rely on several first- and second-year players and have two seniors on the roster. Litzau, in her third season, knows it's her job to keep spirits positive in tough times.
 
"My main thing that I like to do is look everybody in the eye in the huddles and try to be reassuring that we've got it," she said. "It's always keep on moving forward, never looking back."
 
The Coyotes handed Litzau a chance to win it. Her priority was to put the serve in play.
 
"I take a little bit off, because my adrenalin is going," she said. "Still aggressive, but in, for sure."
 
Kelly, who missed the previous tournament because of COVID-19 protocols, led the Shockers with 15 kills, one off her career best. Right-side Sophia Rohling added 10 kills and outside hitter Kailin Newsome contributed 18 digs and nine kills. Libero Lily Liekweg had 28 digs to lead a defense that held the Coyotes to a .143 attack percentage.
 
"This stat sheet looks like a coin toss to me – we got them by a few digs," Lamb said. "Pretty tight. We feel fortunate to come out on top."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.