LUBBOCK, Texas -- Wichita State used a career-best 13 kills from Emerson Wilford and a dominant fourth set showing to notch their first win of 2023, besting Houston Christian 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16 on Saturday afternoon at United Supermarkets Arena.

Redshirt senior outside hitter Brylee Kelly joined the 1,000 kill club at Wichita State late in the third set, recording nine kills over the final two frames to help spark the WSU offense.

The Shockers (1-2) used a balanced attack that featured four players with at least nine kills, led by Wilford's 13. WSU hit .276 for the match compared to .154 by Houston Christian (0-2).

Barbara Koehler powered the Shockers to an opening set win, delivering six kills in the stanza to help the Shockers break a late 19-19 tie. Koehler scored three of WSU's final four points, including a booming kill at 24-21 to clinch the set.

The Huskies answered back with their most efficient showing in the second, hitting .262 and keeping Koehler off the scoreboard to even the match at one set apiece. Wichita State tried to erase a late 24-20 deficit by scoring three consecutive points, but a Cassidy Drapela kill secured the win for Houston Christian.

WSU's block began to make an impact as the match moved into the third and fourth frames. The Shockers piled up four blocks in each set, finish with 12.0 total on the day. Lauren McMahon came off the bench in the third set and was in on a trio of rejections to help Wichita State fend off a late charge. The Shockers saw a 16-9 lead trimmed to 21-20 but got two crucial kills from Kelly and an attack error from Drapela to claim a 2-1 lead moving to the fourth.

Wichita State put together their best offensive set of the season in the final set. The Shockers did not commit an attack error, hitting .452 with four players contributing three or more kills. Natalie Foster capped off a strong day with four terminations on five swings, matched by four from Kelly and three apiece from Wilford and Sophia Rohling. WSU bolted out to an 11-4 lead following a Rohling ace and did not allow the Huskies to get closer than four for the remainder of the match.

Gabi Maas added another solid performance to her opening weekend as a Shocker, leading all players with 21 digs. Izzi Strand directed the Shockers attack to the tune of 46 assists, while Maas chipped in seven. In addition to her career high in Kills, Wilford contributed 11 digs for her first career double-double.

Drapela finished with a match-high 14 kills for Houston Christian but was forced into 11 attack errors on 47 attempts.

Wichita State returns to action on Friday, September 1 at Illinois. First serve from Champaign is scheduled for 5:00 PM.