Volleyball | 9/25/2025 5:05:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
The numbers Wichita State produced in its 12 non-conference matches came against a variety of opponents and styles, from nationally ranked teams to lower-profile schools expected to contend in their conferences and some in between. Those performances will show coach Chris Lamb where the Shockers need to go as American Conference play begins.
 
"You can tell how people are going to prepare for us," he said. "To make some noise in this league, we're going to have to find some scoring."
 
Almost exactly half of Wichita State's kills come from left Sydney Dunning and right-side Brooklyn Leggett. The Shockers (8-4) average 13.2 kills a set, when Lamb's goal is 17. In his calculations, 17 kills (or more) plus a few blocks, aces and opponent errors presents the path to 25 points. Dunning and Leggett are scoring efficiently on the pins.
 
Lamb is satisfied with most aspect of his team's play. He is looking for Shockers who can help move the scoreboard.
 
Wichita State opens American play at 7 p.m. Friday at UAB (7-5). It plays at Memphis (8-5) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
Lamb will continue to try a variety of Shockers searching for scoring. In the middle, redshirt junior Maddie Wilson is a strong blocking presence with four matches of nine or more kills this season and five last season. To improve her scoring, Lamb wants Wilson to temper her big swings when the set and the defense dictate a more conservative attack to keep the ball in play.
 
"I want her to be more a block-avoider in general," he said. "If everything's right, by all means, let it go. When things break down, then exercising more control to keep the errors and the blocks down."
 
 

Two-straight aces for @mads_wilsonnn in set 4 pic.twitter.com/74LJMdiOhv

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) September 20, 2025

 
 
Wilson contributed 14 kills vs. Northern Colorado and 11 in matches against Drake and Villanova. For the season, she is hitting .253 with 1.72 kills a set.
 
"We've been doing a lot of different drills, and a lot of them include coaches saying we want more middle attempts here," Wilson said. "We've been running a little bit of a slower tempo on some things to work on getting hands on the ball."
 
Contributions from the middle, whether Wilson or others, make Dunning and Leggett more effective.
 
"We've had a lot of big blocks against us," Leggett said. "As we start playing more and our middles start scoring it starts to open up things for us. That starts to split the block and move people around."
 
Wilson, from Colorado Springs, earned conference defensive player of the week honors after averaging 1.87 blocks in three matches. She recorded a career-high 111 blocks in a 3-1 win over Drake, six against South Dakota and nine vs. Villanova.
 
On the pins, senior Emerson Wilford offers good blocking and passing skills and is hitting a career-high .195. Lamb is also giving freshmen Olivia Cohee, Jenna Cubbage and McKenzie Jones chances to add to the scoring.
 
"It's not going without us seeking solutions," he said. "And through all of this, serve-and-pass game has gone well, defense has gone well. If we can grow point scoring on the floor, we'll be right in it."
 
After winning the American tournament as a No. 4 seed last season and finishing second in the West Division in 2023, the Shockers are accustomed to being in the race. Leggett said non-conference schedule should prepare the Shockers for the 16 conference matches.
 
"We're a really hard-working team," she said. "Every day at practice, the energy that everyone gives and the effort that's put in every day, I know this team is going to be great."
 
 

Picking up right where she left off last night@mads_wilsonnn pic.twitter.com/XkHU6grsMj

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) September 20, 2025

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.