WICHITA STATE (2-3, 0-0 American) at No. 22 KANSAS (1-3, 0-0 Big 12)
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Lawrence, Kan. | Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena
TV: ESPN+

---

SCENE SETTERS
The Shockers continue a six-match road stretch, heading up the road to play No. 22 Kansas at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.
Wichita State leads the American Conference in four categories, averaging 12.65 assists per set, 17.5 digs per set, 13.65 kills per set and 37.41 team attacks per set, ranking 12^th in the nation in attacks per set.
Jordan Heatherly leads the American in aces per set, averaging 0.53 with a total of nine on the season.
Maddie Wilson ranks top five in the conference in hitting percentage (.345) and top 10 in blocks per set with 1.06.
McKenzie Jones is leading the Shockers in kills per set with 3.12, good for No. 9 in the conference.
The Shocker offense is orchestrated by setters Heatherly and Addie Oeth, who are averaging 6.35 and 4.76 assists per set, respectively, through the first five matches.

LAST TIME OUT
The Shockers dropped back-to-back matches in Boulder, Colo., falling in three sets to No. 23 Colorado and losing a four setter to Big Sky preseason favorite Northern Colorado during the Buffs Invitational. Jenna Cubbage recorded her first career double-double with a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs against Northern Colorado.
 
RELYING ON YOUNG HITTERS
Between Sydney Dunning (injury), Brooklyn Leggett (graduation) and Emerson Wilford (graduation), the Shockers lost 64.5 percent of their kills from 2025. The trio accounted for 1,011 of Wichita State's 1,567 kills last season, making Maddie Wilson the team's returning kills leader with 202 in 2025. While the Shockers bring back a veteran back row, as well as preseason all-conference setter Jordan Heatherly, they will be looking to a group of young hitters to help carry the offense.
 
Sophomores McKenzie Jones, Jenna Cubbage and Olivia Cohee have stepped into prominent roles early. Jones, who appeared in 16 matches and recorded 67 total kills in 2025, leads the Shockers with 53 kills, averaging 3.12 kills per set through five matches. Cubbage appeared in just eight matches in 2025, recording 30 kills during the whole season and has already surpassed that mark with 44. Cohee appeared in six matches in 2025 and recorded 16 kills and has recorded the fourth-most kills on the team this season with 38.
 
SHOCKER VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC
The Shockers won two of their first three matches on opening weekend, sweeping Stephen F. Austin and Missouri State and falling to Idaho State in four sets. McKenzie Jones and Maddie Wilson were named to the Shocker Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team, combining for 60 kills.
 
HEATHERLY NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
Wichita State senior setter, Jordan Heatherly snagged a spot on the preseason all-conference team after finishing third in the conference in total assists with 1,020 and fourth in assists per set with 8.95 last season. The Western Springs, Ill. native started all 30 matches for the Shockers in 2025, appearing in all 114 sets, and recorded 33 service aces, good for second on the team. In the American Conference semifinal against Rice, Heatherly recorded a season-high 57 assists and 15 digs.
The Shockers were picked fourth in the American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, while reigning regular season champion, Rice, was unanimously picked to win the conference.
 
THE COACH
Chris Lamb, WSU's all-time wins leader (547-264, .674), is in his 27^th season on the sideline.
The 2017 national coach of the year has guided the Shockers to 12 NCAA tournaments, highlighted by a run to the 2012 Sweet 16.
WSU has captured seven conference regular-season titles under Lamb's watch, most recently in 2017 when the Shockers finished conference play with a perfect 20-0 mark.
In 2023, Lamb led Wichita State to its first national postseason championship with a dominant run to the NIVC title.
Lamb recently guided the Shockers to a complete sweep of the 2024 American Conference Championship.