Wichita State University’s women’s volleyball team has won its first postseason championship on the road with a National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) title win. The team was dominant in handling business at Koch Arena for the past two weeks, then scored its first postseason road victory since 2012 and just the second ever in program history with a three-set sweep — 25-14, 25-22, 25-22 — over UTEP in a rowdy Memorial Gym with 3,271 watching in El Paso, Texas .
The Shockers’ victory in the NIVC championship game was a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the season. The team had a record of 18-12 and 13-6 in the American Athletic Conference. The Shockers returned to postseason play for the first time since 2018, hosting Rounds 1 & 2 of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC). The Shockers battled Grand Canyon on Sunday afternoon following the conclusion of Weber State vs. Drake, which was scheduled for a 1:00 pm first serve.
The winners of those two matches met on Monday evening at 5:30 pm. Among the trio of visitors were two unfamiliar foes and one that was very familiar. The Shockers had never played Grand Canyon or Weber State, but Chris Lamb had a career record of 33-1 against Drake, his most wins against any one opponent .
The Shockers entered the postseason winners of four straight matches and seven of their last eight. It was the longest winning or losing streak during the 2022 season. The Shockers’ last trip to the postseason was also in the NIVC in 2018. Wichita State defeated Central Arkansas before falling in four sets to host North Texas. Current Grand Canyon player Megan Taflinger led the Shockers with 39 combined kills in the two matches. Three Shockers earned All-American Athletic Conference honors on Tuesday.
Middle blocker Natalie Foster and outside hitter Brylee Kelly snagged a spot on the First Team, while opposite Sophia Rohling earned Second Team honors. WSU was 14-1 this season when winning the first set (only loss on Oct. 30 vs. UCF) and 4-11 when trailing 1-0. The Shockers finished the regular season with an RPI of 60, fourth-best in the AAC and second-best in the NIVC field. Wichita State trailed UCF (17), Houston (18), and SMU (59) among teams in The American .
The Shockers’ victory in the NIVC championship game was a historic moment for the team and the university. The team’s hard work and dedication throughout the season paid off in the end, and they were able to claim their first postseason championship on the road. The Shockers’ victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, and it will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in the history of Wichita State volleyball.
In conclusion, Wichita State University’s women’s volleyball team has won its first postseason championship on the road with a National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) title win. The team’s victory was a historic moment for the team and the university, and it was a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the season. The Shockers’ victory will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in the history of Wichita State volleyball.
