The RoundHouse | 11/7/2024 4:29:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop 

Brooklyn Leggett created, in the mind of Wichita State coach Chris Lamb, a statistical paper worthy of a scrapbook in Sunday's 3-1 win against Tulsa.
 
"Pretty great," he said. "I hope she always holds onto this box score."
 
Lamb is counting on Leggett, and the Shockers, to produce more of those type of box scores as it enters the season's final weeks. Wichita State (14-10, 9-3 American Athletic Conference) plays at Rice (15-6, 10-2) on Friday (6 p.m.) and at Tulane (14-10, 6-6) on Sunday (1 p.m.).
 
Wichita State enters the weekend on a four-match win streak which has allowed them to stay near the top of the AAC. It is tied with ECU in third place behind Rice and USF. WSU's sweep of Tulsa – boosted by Leggett's strong weekend as an attacker on the left – is encouraging for Lamb. WSU has four regular-season matches remaining before the AAC Championship begins Nov. 22 at Koch Arena.
 
WSU's scoring pop has improved in AAC play and Lamb wants even more. Defeating Tulsa – a sound defensive team with excellent back-row play – and averaging 19 points in the two matches is a good sign. WSU's 78.5 points in Sunday's 3-1 win is more than it scored in five five-set matches and more than it scored in eight other four-set matches.
 
In AAC matches, the Shockers are hitting .240, up from .188 against a brutal non-conference schedule.
 
"They've been the defensive team in our league, and we've been frustrated by digging" he said. "In two matches, we scored over 19 points a game. The Shockers need to get that number up, and that number has been climbing over the last few weeks."
 
Leggett recorded a career-high 22 kills, with an attack efficiency of .341, on Sunday against Tulsa. She had 11 kills on Friday vs. the Hurricane, her first on the left after primarily hitting on the right side.
 
 

ＣＲＵＳＨＥＤ@brooklynleggett extends the lead to six and forces a Tulsa timeout.

S1 |🌾22, 🌀 16 pic.twitter.com/CykxeYFrnR

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) November 3, 2024

 
 
"Tulsa is literally one of the better digging teams in our league and they couldn't stop her," Lamb said. "Jumping high and hitting hard goes a long way. She's always had that. If she can do that against Tulsa, we like her chances elsewhere in the league."
 
Leggett wasn't totally unfamiliar with playing on the left.
 
"Everyone around me working hard helps me do my best," she said. "Setter Izzi Strand) is talking to me and always giving me feedback, and that's super helpful."
As conference play wore on, Shockers such as Maddie Wilson, Emerson Wilford, Sarah Barham and Alyssa Gonzales contributed good scoring games to pair with Morgan Stout's consistency in the middle. Leggett's outburst on the left gives Lamb hope his offense can continue to improve heading into the AAC Championship.
 
"I know she's going to get a kill," Stout said. "It definitely is very relieving knowing that I have a left on the other side who can really put the ball on the floor."
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.