Wichita State volleyball works at rounding out Whitledge

Wichita State’s Jenny Whitledge looks like a libero and jumps like an outside hitter. It is volleyball coach Chris Lamb’s hope that someday soon those talents merge into a six-rotation asset.

After Wednesday’s practice, the conversation between Lamb and assistant coach Sean Carter stuck on one point — Whitledge needs to be on the floor.

“We’ve said that a bunch,” Lamb said. “With what we’re doing right now, lineup-wise, her passing is much appreciated and it’s only going to get better. There are several girls on our team that have the front-row survival skills, but perhaps not the back-row survival skills. She’s got the complete menu.”

The Shockers (10-6, 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference) play at Missouri State (10-7, 4-2) on Friday in a matchup of teams desperately trying to stay close to MVC leaders Illinois State and Northern Iowa, both 5-0 entering two matches this weekend. By Sunday, either WSU or MSU, both off Saturday, could be three games out of second place and carrying home losses to the leaders.

WSU is looking for consistency in the back row and at outside hitter and Whitledge, a redshirt freshman from Tonganoxie, might help with both spots. Her contributions at outside hitter are growing since she returned from a concussion in mid-September.

“(Lamb) told me I needed to think of myself as a libero with arms,” Whitledge said. “I’m definitely trying my hardest to work on my passing and work on my digging. It’s a lot to work on, but I love the challenge.”

Whitledge played in every set in a win over Pepperdine and a loss to Creighton in the Bluejay Invitational and contributed seven kills in each. She took a ball to the jaw during practice the next week and missed practices set her back. She played briefly six days later against Illinois State and sat out the next match.

“If she didn’t get bonked in the head, days after Creighton, she was off and running,” Lamb said.

Whitledge returned to match her season-high with eight kills and six digs against Bradley before struggling in her next two matches. She rebounded Saturday with seven kills in a win over Drake. Lamb saw the performance, which included a .190 attack percentage, as evidence that Whitledge is growing into a larger role.

“When she really feels comfortable, you will see why she’s here,” he said.

Whitledge (5-foot-9) is a few inches shorter than a typical outside hitter, although Lamb turned similarly sized Sara Younes into an honorable mention All-American in 2004. She is a quick leaper who can touch the rim on a basketball goal. At Tonganoxie, she played volleyball, earned all-league honors in basketball and won the Class 4A high jump three times.

“I like having one sport that I can focus on and reach my full potential,” she said. “My freshman year, it was kind of tough because I was so used to having different sports and moving on if I had a really bad season.

She compensates for her size by trying to score off the block and use a variety of locations. She doesn’t overpower blockers as often as bigger attackers. When she blocks, she must make up for a lack of length by getting to the right place.

“She’s going to have to be a quick decision-maker, but she is the fastest Shocker off the floor,” Lamb said.

Whitledge redshirted last season and needed that time to refine her skills. She worked on her approach and worked on building a stable passing platform.

“I was pretty raw,” she said. “That was something that was a big struggle for me. I’m a perfectionist.”

This story was originally published October 9, 2014 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Wichita State volleyball works at rounding out Whitledge."