Volleyball | 10/17/2026 8:29:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
In August, Wichita State volleyball coaches talked about the positive energy in practice, knowing that a brutal schedule would likely test that cohesion.
 
The schedule knocked the Shockers around. The good vibes held through a five-match losing streak and Wichita State saw it pay off with a 3-2 (25-22, 14-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11) win over UTSA on Friday at Koch Arena.
 
While the Shockers (5-14, 2-5 American Conference) struggled through the first two months of the season, coach Chris Lamb puts his team on the short list of teams who withstand tough times and continue to work.
 
"Plenty of teams haven't gotten what they wanted," he said. "I'd like to know how many of them are still competing and they're still giving their coaches what they need in practice every day."

Lamb believes his team's youth helps their enthusiasm. There are five sophomores and five freshmen on the roster, and they are still very much looking forward to their volleyball futures. Freshmen such as Brea Martin, sophomore McKenzie Jones said, show up each day in the gym, play hard and boost teammates when things are tough.

"I feel there's a lot of girls who you may not see on the court that bring a lot of positive energy," middle Maddie Wilson said. "They push us every day in our gym to be better. It's easy to root for one another."
Friday's win over UTSA (12-7, 3-5) backed up last week's 3-2 loss at first-place Tulsa. The Shockers, defeated 3-1 by the Hurricane earlier in the season, served with the match tied 14-all before losing 16-14.

"You've got back to back weeks of progress," Lamb said. "If you would have seen us at Tulsa, you would have seen us fighting for our lives. We were serving to win the match. We got ourselves there."
On Friday, Wichita State finished it off. Good vibes only go so far before a win helps maintain momentum.

 

What a night for Maddie Wilson! 😤 https://t.co/jtJYGkLhOg

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) October 17, 2026

"Regardless of how we won, we won and that was really important to us," Jones said. "We finally got a win."

The Shockers hit .151 for the match but hit .316 in a first-set win that helped their confidence. They hit .429 in a fifth set in which they never trailed and dominated at the service line. The Roadrunners opened the final set with a service error. Aces by Grace Hett and Janaya Weitkemper helped WSU pull away and Gabi Maas ended the match with an ace.

Jones led the Shockers with 18 kills and added four blocks. Although she finished with 11 attacker errors, Jones found her lane in the final set with three kills and one error.
"I needed that win so bad," Jones said.

Wilson hit .538 for 16 kills and contributed five blocks. Wilson, a senior, has hit .350 or better in six of the past seven matches and recorded 10 or more kills in five of those. Wilson's ability to hit quickly on both sides of the block continues to grow as a weapon.

"We've finally found the sweet spot for her with the setters," Lamb said. "She controls both sides of the ball. In women's volleyball, the sharp crossbody ones are the rarest. She's had a few. It takes a lot of trust in your hand on the ball."

The Shockers play Rice at noon on Sunday at Koch Arena and hope to continue their progress. WSU is in a three-way tie for ninth in the 13-team American Conference. The top eight teams qualify for the post-season tournament.
 
 

Gabi said GOODNIGHT 😴 https://t.co/Hq5jGbiqEd

— Wichita State Volleyball (@GoShockersVB) October 17, 2026

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.