Wichita State Athletics

WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State volleyball picked up a 3-1 victory over Memphis in its American Conference opener Friday night inside Charles Koch Arena, taking the match 25-20, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21.
 
The Shockers improved to 4-9 (1-0 American), while Memphis fell to 5-7 overall and 0-1 in league action.
 
Wichita State used a balanced offensive attack to earn the win, finishing the night with 54 kills on a .240 hitting percentage. The Shockers also recorded eight team blocks and held Memphis to a .170 hitting percentage.
 
McKenzie Jones led the way offensively with 13 kills on .276 hitting, while Olivia Cohee added 11 kills and Janaya Weitkemper (.444) and Jenna Cubbage each finished with nine kills.
 
Wichita State came out strong in the opening set, scoring the first three points before Memphis went on a 5-0 run to take the lead. The Shockers tied it back up at 14-14, and late kills from Jones and Maddie Wilson helped secure the set one win.
 
The second set featured another tight battle where neither team led by more than two until Wichita State pulled ahead 17-13. Memphis hung around, tying it up at 22-22 before the Shockers scored three-straight to finish off the set.
 
Memphis responded in the third set, hitting .400 and using a late run to claim the frame, 25-21, and force a fourth set. The fourth set was another battle, but Memphis attack errors helped give the Shockers a four-point buffer at 18-14. Kills from Weitkemper and Cohee kept Wichita State in front to secure a 25-21 set four win and seal the match.
 
The match saw 22 ties and nine lead changes, but the Shockers prevailed to start conference play with a win. Memphis was led by Caitlyn Little and Amanda Hardt with 20 and 15 kills, respectively.
 
Wichita State returns to the Devlin Court on Sunday at noon to face South Florida (1-10, 0-1 American) in Charles Koch Arena.