The RoundHouse | 8/12/2022 3:10:00 PM

 
They're all back for Wichita State volleyball, the setters and the scorers and most of the liberos.
 
Even better, everyone coming back includes Lauren McMahon, a middle blocker who played little in 2021. When she suffered a dislocated right foot six matches into the season, she ranked second in the American Athletic Conference with a .370 attack percentage.
 
"I was on a roll when I got hurt," she said.
 
The Shockers started practice earlier this week with McMahon, a sophomore from Dallas, ready to return to that role. The Shockers started 5-1. After her injury, the schedule grew more challenging, and they slumped to 6-6. Wichita State rebounded to win eight straight matches and finish 19-10.
 
Almost every bit of scoring is back from that resurgent team, and McMahon adds her energy and power to the lineup.
 
"She's such a great aggressive player in the middle," setter Kayce Litzau said. "It's very important that we have her back."
 
McMahon's return also helps the Shockers with needed depth at the position. Last season, middle Morgan Stout rarely practiced to preserve her legs and is on a jump-count (60 a day) during practices this season. That left Natalie Foster as the lone healthy middle for much of 2021.
 
"Lauren looks good," coach Chris Lamb said. "She's in the best shape of her life. It's going to come down to her technique as a blocker and how often she'll score. Everything is right there and now we're going to see what kind of production she can provide."
 
McMahon, 6-foot-3, started the 2021 fall season with seven kills and four blocks in a win over Missouri State. She recorded 11 kills and six blocks against Kent State and 14 kills against Delaware, in her last match, all while hitting better than .400.
 
"The coaches gave me a chance, they threw me out there and I knew I had to prove myself," she said.
 
During fall practices, Litzau said she notices McMahon swinging with confidence and willing to learn from mistakes.
 
"She missed last season, and she has a chip on her shoulder because of that," Litzau said. "You want to be on the court, so you value it."
 
With Foster, who earned second-team All-AAC honors, and Stout back, McMahon understands she is in a battle for playing time. Much of how the lineup shakes out will depend on how Lamb decides to use Foster, who hit .334 last season to lead conference freshmen.
 
McMahon got most of her points last season playing in front of the setter, a spot that often receives quick, short sets. That is also Foster's best spot, putting McMahon working more often behind the setter in practices, a spot that relies more hitting slides.
 
"I've got to be competitive and do what I can do to earn a spot," McMahon said. "I feel like I'm jumping a lot higher, and I feel like I got stronger. I focused a lot in the weight room, lifted every day, and did a lot of jumping work."
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.