Volleyball | 1/31/2023 10:13:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Wichita State volleyball coach Chris Lamb loves lasagna and demands it served a particular way. He passed on this lesson in team building early in spring practices, giving his semester additions a glimpse into his coaching style and stories.
 
There are six new Shockers this spring for Lamb to mix in with a good group of returners. Setter Izzi Strand, middle blocker Maddie Wilson, outside hitter Megan Reilly, libero Gabi Maas, attacker Brooklyn Leggett and outside hitter Barbara Koehler are additions that Lamb expects to strengthen the level of competition and depth in his practice gym.
 
"He has a high expectation for his lasagna, because his mom makes really good lasagna," said Leggett, a transfer from NCAA Division II Colorado Mesa University. "He has very high expectations for all of us."
 
That's how Lamb links his lasagna to the activity in his practice gym.
 
"He knows that we're really good, but he doesn't know how well we're going to compete on the court, or how well we're going to play together.," said Strand, who transferred from UC San Diego. "He was trying to see how we're going to work together to become the best lasagna we can."
 
Wichita State is adding the new faces to an already strong roster. The Shockers went 18-13 last season, 13-6 in the American Athletic Conference, with an appearance in the NIVC. Returners include AVCA All-Region North middle Natalie Foster, all-conference left Brylee Kelly, setter Kayce Litzau and second-team all-conference opposite Sophia Rohling.
 
The additions, Lamb expects, make his team deeper and more versatile at every position.
 
"We have something for everyone," he said. "The gym is better than it was in the fall. We've added more pieces and everybody that is here can play."
 
Boosting Wichita State's scoring options was one of Lamb's main goals. The Shockers ranked fourth in the American in kills (12.57 a set) and attack percentage (.243) and third in blocks (2.32) in conference matches. That wasn't quite enough to keep pace with co-champions UCF and Houston or third-place SMU. The Shockers finished fourth in the AAC and went 1-5 against that group with a late-season win at SMU.
 
Wichita State, in Lamb's view, outperformed its point-scoring statistics with organization, teamwork and hustle. To make a jump in the standings, the Shockers need to put the ball on the floor more often.
 
"We couldn't find enough earned points to keep up the better teams," Lamb said. "Point scoring. You're working hard to really better that."
 
The newcomers give Lamb the opportunity to mix lineups, experiment and put more scorers at more positions. Koehler earned NJCAA Division I Player of the Year honors and won a national title at Florida SouthWestern State College. She averaged 3.7 kills and hit .324. Reilly is a transfer from Arizona State after redshirting. Wilson hit .235 for Idaho with 140 kills.
 
In the first weeks of practice, the newcomers are learning how Lamb coaches. Kelly, Leggett said, is helping her adjustment with regular check-ins and advice. One practice session featured a drill in which defenders dug and passed, then chased small rubber balls, to work on agility. A drill designed to solidify passing technique meant using a stick as an arm brace.
 
"It's been a lot of things I've never done before," Leggett said. "We put sticks in our arm pits, and held the stick, and we were passing. I've never heard of anyone doing that before. It was teaching me things I didn't think it would be teaching me."
 
Strand is impressed by the competition in practices.
 
"I love the skill level of play and practice," she said. "Everyone is driven, not by points, not by the game, but driven by themselves. I feel like that will come out on the court in the fall."
 
The variety of practice drills and atmosphere in the gym also helps.
 
"We have a 40-minute session, and you work the entire time," Strand said. "(Lamb) is very creative, which is fun for me. I want to be surprised. Volleyball is very random, so it's fun when we do random things that are very similar to game play."
 
They also learned the proper way to serve lasagna. Always on a plate. Never in a bowl, the need for which indicates the meat and pasta are runny.
 
"Plate – I can't believe anybody would want it otherwise," Lamb said. "Bring it in a bowl and it's all soupy. No."
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.