WICHITA STATE (2-2, 0-0 American)
Friday, Sep. 6 (7:00 p.m. CT) vs. #21 Arkansas (3-0, 0-0 SEC)
Fayetteville, Ark. (Barnhill Arena)
Live Stats //
Watch
Saturday, Sep. 7 (4:00 p.m. CT) vs. Little Rock (3-0, 0-0 OVC)
Fayetteville, Ark. (Barnhill Arena)
Live Stats
Â
Wichita State aims to bounce back from a sweep at the hands of #13 Kansas with a quick turnaround at the Wooo Pig Invitational, squaring off against #21 Arkansas and Little Rock.
Only the Arkansas match will be streamed on SEC Network+. Live stats for both matches can be found at shockerstats.com.
SCENE SETTERS:
- Wichita State continues a stretch of challenging matches with a trip to Fayetteville for the Wooo Pig Invitational, where the Shockers take on #21-ranked Arkansas on Friday and Little Rock on Saturday.
- The Shockers are searching for their first win against ranked opposition since 2017 on Friday. Wichita State defeated #8 Creighton on September 15, 2017 (also the program's highest-ever win) and have since lost 19 straight against teams in the AVCA Top 25. WSU played just one ranked opponent in 2023 but have five 2024 opponents currently ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA poll, not including an exhibition match against RV Kansas State.
- Wichita State went 2-1 to open the season at the Kennesaw State Invitational before falling at #13 Kansas on Wednesday. WSU defeated the host Owls 3-1 to open the season, then split a pair of five-set matches on Saturday. The Shockers led Indiana 2-1 and early in the fifth set, but could not hold off the Hoosier rally. a few hours later, Wichita State fell behind 2-0 against Kennesaw State but rallied for a 3-2 victory.Â
- The Shockers were picked second in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll announced last Monday. Rice was tabbed as preseason favorite, garnering eight first place votes to Wichita State's four. South Florida was picked third and received the final first place vote. Middle blocker Morgan Stout and setter Izzi Strand were both named preseason all-conference.
- Head coach Chris Lamb is in his 25th season at the helm of the Shockers. Known affectionately as "Lambo," the veteran head coach owns a career record of 510-238, good for a .682 winning percentage and the most wins in the American Athletic Conference.
LOOKING BACK:
- Wichita State continues a stretch of challenging matches with a trip to Fayetteville for the Wooo Pig Invitational, where the Shockers take on #21-ranked Arkansas on Friday and Little Rock on Saturday.
- The Shockers are searching for their first win against ranked opposition since 2017 on Friday. Wichita State defeated #8 Creighton on September 15, 2017 (also the program's highest-ever win) and have since lost 19 straight against teams in the AVCA Top 25. WSU played just one ranked opponent in 2023 but have five 2024 opponents currently ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA poll, not including an exhibition match against RV Kansas State.
- Wichita State went 2-1 to open the season at the Kennesaw State Invitational before falling at #13 Kansas on Wednesday. WSU defeated the host Owls 3-1 to open the season, then split a pair of five-set matches on Saturday. The Shockers led Indiana 2-1 and early in the fifth set, but could not hold off the Hoosier rally. a few hours later, Wichita State fell behind 2-0 against Kennesaw State but rallied for a 3-2 victory.Â
- The Shockers were picked second in the American Athletic Conference preseason poll announced last Monday. Rice was tabbed as preseason favorite, garnering eight first place votes to Wichita State's four. South Florida was picked third and received the final first place vote. Middle blocker Morgan Stout and setter Izzi Strand were both named preseason all-conference.
- Head coach Chris Lamb is in his 25th season at the helm of the Shockers. Known affectionately as "Lambo," the veteran head coach owns a career record of 510-238, good for a .682 winning percentage and the most wins in the American Athletic Conference.
WSU-ARKANSASÂ SERIES:
- The Shockers and Razorbacks have played six times, with Wichita State holding a 4-2 lead in the series.
- The most recent match came in the first round of the 2012 NCAA tournament, when Wichita State rallied from two sets down to best the Razorbacks in five. Ashley Andrade delivered the best match of her career to power the Shockers, hitting .564 with 23 kills.
- The Shockers have squared off just once in Fayetteville, a 2003 meeting that Arkansas claimed, 3-1.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS:
- Arkansas completed an undefeated run through the Mustang Invitational in San Luis Obispo, California on opening weekend, downing St. Mary's, Sacramento State and future Wichita State opponent Cal Poly.
- The Razorbacks will play four matches at the Woo Pig Invitational, taking on Rutgers and Louisiana Tech in addition to Wichita State and Little Rock.
- Arkansas reached Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 2023. The Razorbacks finished with a 28-6 record, their most wins since 1999, and checked in at #8 in the final top 25 poll.
- The Hogs are picked to finish eighth in the SEC preseason poll.
- Senior setter Hannah Hogue was tapped for the SEC preseason all-conference team. Hogue was named All-SEC, AVCA All-South Region and Honorable Mention All-American in 2023, ranking sixth nationally with 11.13 assists per set.
- Former BYU and Arizona State head coach Jason Watson is in his ninth season with the Razorbacks. Watson was named the AVCA South Region Coach of the Year and SEC Co-Coach of the Year in 2023, with a career record of 336-250 (.573) over 20 total seasons.
WSU-LITTLE ROCKÂ SERIES:
- The Shockers and Trojans have split four all-time matches. Little Rock downed WSU in 2000 and 1997, while Wichita State picked up wins in 1999 and 1978.
- The most recent meeting came at the season-opening Oral Roberts Tournament in 2000, Chris Lamb's first season at the helm of the Shockers. Wichita State took the first set of that match, the first set win for Lamb as head coach.
- Three of the four all-time meetings have taken place at a neutral site.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS:
- The Shockers and Trojans have split four all-time matches. Little Rock downed WSU in 2000 and 1997, while Wichita State picked up wins in 1999 and 1978.
- The most recent meeting came at the season-opening Oral Roberts Tournament in 2000, Chris Lamb's first season at the helm of the Shockers. Wichita State took the first set of that match, the first set win for Lamb as head coach.
- Three of the four all-time meetings have taken place at a neutral site.
UP NEXT:
- The Shockers travel to Lincoln for the Nebraska Classic, where WSU will take on Arizona State, Long Beach State and Nebraska.
