The RoundHouse | 8/16/2024 8:23:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Sarah Barham watched video of how Wichita State used its middle blockers and listened to coaches pitch their plans.
 
Those plans feature volleyballs moving at a fast tempo on a line to the middle. Wichita State's traditional heavy reliance on middles for points and its quick sets fit her perfectly.
 
"I don't like waiting, so it was definitely exciting when I was getting recruited to hear that's what they were looking for," Barham said. "It's been exciting to see just how fast we can go."
 
Barham, a 6-foot-1 transfer from Wofford University, brings four seasons of experience, four seasons of All-Southern Conference honors and an agility that complements how setter Izzi Strand works. She uses her legs to compete against taller opponents.
 
"Sarah plays fast," Coach Chris Lamb said. "Izzi plays fast. We put Sarah right in there."
 
Middle Natalie Foster, who earned NVCA All-North Region honors twice, transferred to SMU. She scored proficiently by preferring loopier, slower sets than past WSU middles. Barham's style is a return to quicker sets for the middles. She reminds coach Chris Lamb of former Shocker Elizabeth Meyers as a scorer.
 
"Very athletic," said Morgan Stout, a senior middle. "She can really get up fast and is very good about communicating to the setter about what she needs. Their connection is uber fast."
 
Barham, from Summerfield, N.C., wanted to transfer to a program which wants points from its middles. Her career attack percentage of .316 ranks second in Wofford history. Last season, she led Wofford with 264 kills and ranked second on team at 3.20 kills a set. She compiled a .312 attack percentage on her way to All-Southern Conference honors.
 
 

Another menace in the middle 😈@sarahbarham_ brings nearly 1,000 kills and a career .315 hitting percentage with her to Wichita. pic.twitter.com/UtHc4QetIF

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) August 5, 2024

 
 
"There's a lot of programs out there that don't take full advantage of strong offense in the middle," she said. "I thought it was really cool that they prioritize incorporating everyone in the offense."
 
Lamb also is impressed with how Barham uses her quickness as a blocker. He credited Wofford's coaching staff with teaching Barham how to read and move effectively. As a blocker, she reminds Lamb of current assistant and former WSU middle Katie (Reilly) Zimmerman.
 
"She's laterally fast, and she's patient," Lamb said. "You can tell somebody's worked with her. She's very, very patient and responsible in what we call lead blocking. She is mature in that role."
 
Lamb's top priority in August is to find point-scorers to replace the loss of Foster and others. Barham's experience and fit in the offense puts her in the middle of those plans.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.