Volleyball | 10/23/2025 12:02:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
Kills get the most attention. A service ace might produce the most humiliation in the sport. A diving dig is the best way for a libero to show off and earn cheers.
Allie Paulsen will take the stuff-block, that one-on-one victory at the net that turns defense into offense in an instant.
"I'm the biggest believer that defense wins games," Paulsen said. "I would rather get a solo stuff-block than get a kill. It's just so much more rewarding to prove you can shut down hitters."
Paulsen, a redshirt sophomore middle blocker, is piling up those rewards recently. She earned American Conference defensive player of the week honors after averaging 1.78 blocks a set in a 3-1 win over UTSA and a 3-2 loss at Rice. She recorded career highs with 10 blocks and nine kills at UTSA. She followed that with six blocks and six kills against the Owls.
The Shockers (13-7, 5-3 American) play Tulane (9-10, 1-7) at 7 p.m., Friday and North Texas (15-5, 5-3) at 1 p.m., Sunday at Koch Arena.
Paulsen played in five matches in an injury-abbreviated 2024. This season, she returned stronger, quicker and more experienced. The departures of
Morgan Stout and
Sarah Barham opened playing time.
Coach
Chris Lamb recruited Paulsen out of Andover Central High School knowing she needed time to improve physically.
"I figured Allie would go as far as her motivation and strength curve," he said. "This is the year you can tell in her movements that's she's more in control and she's creating power. Your hope is, sooner or later in their college career, their body will start to respond to strength work. It shows up in their ability to keep their hips down and move. It shows up in change of direction."
Paulsen's physical improvement allows her to get to spots a split-second sooner than in the past. That is the difference between sealing off the net for a block and allowing the ball to slip past.
"Allie last year knew the blocking plays, also, right?" she said. "I've found footwork that works for me. I feel more confident out there than I did last year. A lot of it's because I feel stronger and faster."
The Shocker littles get the best view of Paulsen growing into her role. They see someone who is athletic enough and experienced enough to be patient. That timing puts her in place to be an obstacle.
"The first thing is confidence," defensive specialist
Grace Hett said. "She's trusting her choices. She's trusting her judgement. Allie is calm and collected and she goes when she thinks she needs to go."
While the blocks get the most attention, the blocker's job is also to deflect balls to start the attack coming back at the opposition.
"The goal is to slow the ball down, make it easier on the people behind you," defensive specialist
Katie Galligan said. "That slow down, if we get that point, that was a game-changer, especially if it's coming out of the middle."
Paulsen starts her preparation for blocking with scouting reports. She listens and asks questions. She believes that attention pays off in matches.
"I'll ask questions about a girl's tendencies, and I keep hearing it over and over and over again," she said. "All of that gets instilled in my brain. Lambo will watch all this film and half the time he can predict, 'That's girls going to go thumb down.' He can read that so well. I love that I can absorb that information from him."
Lamb's scouting report on Paulsen out of Andover Central, where she was coached by former Shocker Kayla Wiedert, proved correct. Paulsen made it happen with her motivation and attention.
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit
GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
