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Katie Galligan

Volleyball Preview: NIVC Rounds 1 & 2

11/29/2023 4:27:00 PM

WICHITA STATE (21-8, 15-4 American)

Thursday, Nov. 30 (3:30 p.m. CT) Tulsa (17-14, 10-9 American) vs. Kansas City (22-8, 12-4 Summit)
Wichita, Kan. (Charles Koch Arena)
Live Stats // Watch

Thursday, Nov. 30 (6:00 p.m. CT) Arkansas State (16-14, 5-11 Sun Belt) vs. Wichita State (21-8, 15-4 American)
Wichita, Kan. (Charles Koch Arena)
Live Stats // Watch

Friday, Dec. 1 (1:30 p.m. CT) TBA vs. TBA
Wichita, Kan. (Charles Koch Arena)
 

The Shockers host Rounds 1 and 2 of the National Invitational Volleyball Championships at Charles Koch Arena, taking on Arkansas State while Kansas City and Tulsa tangle on the bottom of the bracket quadrant.

All matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.  Track live scoring throughout the week at shockerstats.com.

SCENE SETTERS:
  • Wichita State kicks off their postseason run on Thursday, hosting Rounds 1 & 2 of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC).
  • The Shockers battle Arkansas State on Thursday night following the conclusion of Tulsa vs. Kansas City, which is scheduled for a 3:30 pm first serve. The winners of those two matches will meet on Friday at 1:30 pm.
  • Wichita State has recent history against all three teams coming to Wichita. The Shockers played Arkansas State in 2021 as part of the A-State Invitational and traveled to Kansas City last season to take part in the KC Roos Classic. Tulsa is a member of the American Athletic Conference and has already squared off against the Shockers twice this season.
  • The American is well represented in the 2023 NIVC field. Of the 32 teams taking part, six are from the AAC (Wichita State, Tulsa, South Florida, East Carolina, North Texas and Florida Atlantic). East Carolina joins the Shockers as hosts for the opening two rounds.
  • This is WSU's second straight appearance in the NIVC. The Shockers were eliminated in the opening round last season by Grand Canyon, and also participated in the 2018 edition. Wichita State defeated Central Arkansas that year before falling in four sets to host North Texas.
  • Four Shockers earned All-American Athletic Conference honors on Tuesday. Middle blocker Natalie Foster and opposite Sophia Rohling snagged a spot on the First Team, while middle blocker Morgan Stout and setter Izzi Strand earned Second Team honors.
  • The Shockers finished the regular season with an RPI of 62, third-best in the AAC and third-best in the NIVC field. WSU trails St. John's (46) and Drake (54) in the bracket.
LOOKING BACK:
  • Wichita State wrapped up the regular season with a dominant straights sets win over UAB on Wednesday night at Charles Koch Arena, rolling past the Blazers 25-13, 25-12, 25-10.
  • WSU trailed for just a single point in the match, falling behind 1-0 to open the second set.
  • The Shockers hit a season-best .374 on the evening, getting 13 kills from Morgan Stout, 12 from Sophia Rohling and seven apiece from Brylee Kelly and Natalie Foster.
  • Stout was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her performance, the first Shocker to earn the award in 2023. The redshirt junior middle blocker hit .524 for match, scoring 13 times on 21 swings.
  • Setter Izzi Strand finished with 35 assists and a staggering .530 set percentage as the Shockers scored 35 times on her 66 set attempts. Strand finished the regular season with 1,161 total assists, tops in the AAC and 28th nationally.
  • Wichita State converted 30 of 37 sideout opportunities, including 11 of 12 in the second set. UAB's .384 (28-73) sideout percentage was the lowest by a Shocker opponent this season.
  • The Shockers stifled UAB to the tune of a .012 hitting percentage, limiting the Blazers to 17 kills and 16 attack errors. Wichita State also allowed just two service aces.
  • Redshirt junior defensive specialist Kylie Marneris got her first action of the season and wrapped up the sweep with five straight points at the service line. Marneris was one of five Shockers honored before the match on Senior Night.
WSU-ARKANSAS STATE SERIES:
  • Wichita State holds a 3-1 edge in the brief all-time series, claiming the most recent meeting in 2021 to win the A-State Invitational.
  • This is just the second-ever trip to Wichita for Arkansas State. The homestanding Shockers pulled out a 3-2 win in 1993; the prior two matches were both neutral-site affairs.
  • Sophia Rohling, Brylee Kelly and Natalie Foster combined for 32 kills in the last matchup against the Red Wolves. Current Shockers Morgan Stout, Morgan Weber, Annalie Heliste and Lauren McMahon also appeared in the match.
SCOUTING THE RED WOLVES:
  • Arkansas State finished the regular season with a 16-14 overall record, going 5-11 in Sun Belt Conference play.
  • The Red Wolves were bounced from the SBC Tournament in the second round by Georgia Southern, who is also in the NIVC on the opposite side of the bracket.
  • This is the sixth appearance in the NIVC for the Red Wolves and their first since the 2018 season. Arkansas State has a 6-6 all-time record in NIVC action.
  • Two freshmen standouts highlight the roster for Arkansas State; setter Erin Madigan averages 9.85 assists per set to rank fourth in the Sun Belt and outside hitter Kaitlin Whitlock averages just under three kills per set to pace the Red Wolves offensively.
  • The Red Wolves rank 42nd nationally with 16.11 digs per set, led by Houston transfer Sarah Martinez at libero with 4.73 ups per set.
  • The Shockers are familiar with Arkansas State head coach Brian Gerwig, who coached against Wichita State as an assistant at Houston from 2019-21 under former Arkansas State head coach David Rehr. Gerwig served as an assistant at Arkansas State prior to his time in Houston and had previous stops at George Washington and Western Kentucky.
WSU-TULSA SERIES:
  • The Shockers hold a 40-15 lead in the all-time series. At one point, WSU won 23 of 24 matches in the series from 1985 to 1996.
  • WSU is 7-0 against the Golden Hurricane in Wichita since joining the AAC and 5-2 in Tulsa.
  • The Shockers won both matches against Tulsa during the regular season, 3-1 in the series opener and 3-0 the following day. Only one of the seven sets between the two teams was decided by fewer than eight points (4th set of Oct. 20 meeting, 25-22).
  • Wichita State's last home loss to Tulsa came in 1980. The Shockers are 22-2 all-time against the Golden Hurricane in Wichita and have won 19 straight.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN HURRICANE:
  • The Golden Hurricane finished the regular season at 17-14 overall and 10-9 in the American Athletic Conference, winning four straight heading into NIVC play.
  • Tulsa is no stranger to the NIVC. The Golden Hurricane have made three previous appearances (2021, 2019, 2018). Their best run in the event came in 2019 when they won three matches to advance to the semifinals.
  • Star outside hitter Kayley Cassaday was named First Team All-Conference on Tuesday, the third consecutive year in which Cassaday has earned the honor. One of the busiest players in the country, Cassaday ranks second nationally with 14.40 attacks per set and third nationally with 5.15 kills per set. Her 99 attempts on September 15 against Ole Miss are the most in a single match by an individual player this season.
  • Tulsa notched a pair of Power Five wins in nonconference action. The Golden Hurricane opened the season with a win over Michigan State before later besting Ole Miss in five.
  • Tulsa ranks 10th nationally in digs per set (17.31) but has been unable to slow down opposing offenses. Their .225 opponent hitting percentage is second worst in the conference and ranks 249th in the country.
  • Setter Avery Kalsu has had a breakout senior season, logging 1,140 assists to rank third in The American.
  • Head coach Lauren Ramatowski is in her first season with the Golden Hurricane. A Kansas State alum, Ramatowski spent one season at her alma mater as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator before taking over the reins at Tulsa. She coached previously at Arkansas, Washburn, Houston Christian, UTRGV and Truman State.
WSU-KANSAS CITY SERIES:
  • Wichita State holds a 26-6-1 lead in the all-time series. The Shockers swept the Roos last season in Kansas City, their first meeting after playing one another 13 times from 1997-2008.
  • Wichita State has dominated the series as of late, winning 10 consecutive matches including eight in a row in straight sets. The last Kansas City victory in the series came in KC in 1999, the year before Chris Lamb took over as Wichita State head coach. 
  • The 10-0 record for Lamb against Kansas City represents the most victories for him against a school without a loss.
SCOUTING THE ROOS:
  • Kansas City brings a 22-8 record to Wichita, finishing 12-4 in conference play to earn a share of the Summit League regular season title.
  • It was heartbreak for the Roos in the Summit League tournament final. Kansas City led second-seeded Omaha 2-0 and 23-22 in the third, but the Mavericks rallied to win the set then claimed the fourth and fifth frames to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Kansas City was playing in just their second conference title match in program history and their first since the 1997 season.
  • The Roos have one previous appearance in the NIVC, earning a bid in 2019 for their lone previous postseason appearance. They were eliminated in the opening round by UNLV.
  • The Roos boast three First Team All-Summit League players, highlighted by league Defensive Player of the Year Leah Green at libero. Setter Sydney Henry averages 10.17 assists per set to join Green on the First Team, and senior outside hitter Odyssey Warren led the circuit with 422 total kills.
  • Kansas City head coach Christi Posey was a member of the volleyball and softball teams at Wichita State before transferring to Kansas, where she graduated and later coached as an assistant. Now in her 13th season with the Roos, Posey was named the 2023 Summit League Coach of the Year.
UP NEXT:
  • The Shockers either advance to Round 3 of the NIVC on December 5-7 or conclude the 2023 season.
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