Kansas City, Mo. – Wichita State split a pair of matches at the KC Roos Classic on Saturday, falling in straight sets to Northern Illinois before sweeping Kansas City at the Swinney Center.
 
MATCH ONE
 
The Shockers were out-hit .343 to .156, falling in three sets to Northern Illinois by scores of 25-16, 25-22, 25-19.
 
Wichita State was unable to find an offensive rhythm against the Huskies stout defense, which racked up 12 blocks in the three sets. The Shockers were held to hitting percentages of .125, .184 and .161 by the Huskies (4-3), committing 19 total attack errors. After taking an early 4-3 lead following an ace from Brylee Kelly, WSU could not stymie a 6-1 Northern Illinois run that gave the Huskies a 10-5 advantage they would not relinquish. Consecutive service aces from Lily Liekweg make it 14-12, but Northern Illinois took nine of the next 11 points to run away with the set.
 
The two teams traded points to reach 10-10 in the second, and a quick 3-0 burst late in the set brought WSU to within 18-17 following a kill from Morgan Stout. The Huskies scored the next three to reestablish a four-point cushion at 21-17, and the Shockers would get no closer than two the rest of the way. A kill from Charlie Atiemo secured the set to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
 
Northern Illinois led from the outset in the final stanza, as the Shockers did not lead at any point in the set. The Huskies took their largest lead of the afternoon at 20-10, but Wichita State battled back with five straight points. Twice WSU clawed to within four points, making a last gasp to reach 23-19 before got a kill from Atiemo and a Wichita State attack error to clinch the match.
 
Morgan Weber and Sophia Rohling each recorded nine kills to lead the Shockers offensively, while Kelly reached double-figures with ten digs.
 
MATCH TWO
 
 Wichita State snapped a mini three-match losing streak with a hard-fought sweep over host Kansas City, defeating the Kangaroos 25-22, 25-19 and 31-29.
 
The opening frame was dead-even at eight-apiece until a quick 4-0 run from the Shockers created breathing room at 12-8. The WSU lead yo-yoed back and forth between two and three points until very late in the set when Kansas City (3-6) sliced the deficit down to two when Carly Gillen's kill made it 24-22. Out of a Wichita State timeout, Sophia Rohling delivered the first of several clutch kills to give the Shockers the opening set win. Brylee Kelly hit .467 in the opening set with seven kills.
 
The Shockers showcased a balanced offensive attack in the second set, getting four or more kills from Kelly, Rohling, and Morgan Weber, who delivered five to lead the way. WSU hit .333 for the set, again grabbing control with a run in the middle stages thanks to good work at the service line from Lily Liekweg and Kelly. Defensive specialist Annalie Heliste came off the bench to nail down the set with an ace of her own, giving the Shockers a 2-0 advantage.
 
The third set appeared to be a comfortable one for the Shockers in the early going, with Kelly's ace giving WSU a 17-11 lead. But the Roos roared back to seize seven of the next eight points, tying the score at 18-18. From there the two teams traded blows; at one point Kansas City led 24-22 but the Shockers fought off two set points to stay alive, and then four more set points down the stretch. An attack error finally gave Wichita State the lead at 30-29, then Rohling smashed home her eighth kill to provide the finishing blow.
 
Kelly fired a match-high 15 kills to go along with 12 digs, while Natalie Foster hit .556 with 11 terminations. In addition to Kelly, Liekweg (13 digs), Weber (12) and Litzau (11) all contributed to the defensive effort. Kelly and Weber were both named to the All-Classic team.
 
The Shockers wrap up non-conference play next weekend in Dayton at the Tru by Hilton Dayton Beavercreek Invitational. Wichita State plays at Dayton on Friday at 5:00 pm CT and at Wright State Saturday morning at 10:00 am CT.