Volleyball | 9/4/2025 12:37:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
The Shockers of Sunday looked significantly different than the Shockers of Friday. To coach Chris Lamb, that is all part of the learning and experimenting that happens early in a volleyball season.
 
While Wichita State preferred two wins, Lamb said they likely grabbed the more important of the two matches, if your mind is already calculating power rankings. Losing to Kennesaw State may or may not drag that number down, but beating Arkansas is almost certainly a positive.
 
WSU has a long way to go before post-season play is a talking point. If the season reaches that point, beating the Razorback is probably a factor. Wichita State lost in disappointing fashion to Kennesaw State (3-0) on Friday to open the Shocker Volleyball Invitational. On Sunday, the Shockers stopped Arkansas 3-2.
 
"True story here – better to have a couple good wins and don't worry about the bad losses," Lamb said. "We've got to collect some shells, some seashells, and some good ones. There's a few more of these games on our schedule."
 
That search continues this weekend in Utah.
 
The Shockers (1-1) play Incarnate Word (2-1) and No. 18 BYU (3-0) on Friday in the BYU Nike Invitational. WSU plays Northern Colorado (2-1), which owns wins over Washington and Colorado State, on Saturday.
 
WSU's offense, moving from a 6-2 to a 5-1, caught most of the praise after Sunday's win. Lamb also liked his team's defense. Libero Gabi Maas record a career-high 28 digs. Arkansas tested left Sydney Dunning with 53 of the match's 83 serves and she handled all but three for a 94.6 percent success rate.
 
 

Big kill from Maddie to give us the win in the 3rd set pic.twitter.com/jL8k7hdXh1

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) August 31, 2025

 
 
The Shockers, aided by better blocking schemes, held Arkansas to under .140 attack percentage in three of the matches, including .111 in the fifth set.
 
"Those guys were so busy, so active," Lamb said. "We're going to need Gabi, Sydney, Katie Galligan, Brooklyn (Leggett) to have way more good days than they don't."
 
Maas, who sat out last season with a knee injury, credited adjustments after Friday's loss.
 
"We scouted the Arkansas team on Saturday, and we were like 'This team is beatable,'" she said. "We knew exactly what we needed to do. When we have a great scout in front of us, we execute very well. Teams don't know what to do, because we know exactly what they're doing."
 
Lamb's next target is more scoring from his middles. Maddie Wilson hit .500 with nine kills on 16 swings against Arkansas. He wants to add more scoring on quicks and slides with Wilson, a junior, and others.
 
"Maddie Wilson had a sneaky good match against Arkansas," Lamb said. "What do we have to do to get her the things she can do? We know it's there. Let's have another good week of practice."
 
If a good week of practice leads to a good weekend of matches, Wichita State can think a little bit more about end-of-the-season power rankings.
 
 

Sixth kill of the set for #4 🔥 pic.twitter.com/O0luPJAGFB

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) August 31, 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.