NIVC Final Four-bound: Wichita State volleyball advances to postseason semifinals
The Wichita State volleyball team has advanced to the semifinals of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship tournament.
The Shockers will be one of just four teams remaining in the field of teams who just missed out on the NCAA tournament this season. WSU (24-8) is slated to play host to Montana State (24-8) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Koch Arena with a spot in the NIVC championship on the line.
WSU punched its ticket to the semifinals with a three-set sweep of Drake, 30-28, 27-25, 25-21, on Wednesday at Koch Arena in a match that was more competitive than a sweep might indicate. There were 39 ties and 15 lead changes in just three sets.
It was the 12th victory in the Roundhouse this season, which is the most by WSU since the 2013 team went 12-3 on its home court. It was also WSU’s 34th straight win over Drake, dating back to 2000 when the two were Missouri Valley Conference rivals.
Wednesday’s win was led by the usual suspects, as middle hitters Morgan Stout and Natalie Foster were superb working with setter Izzi Strand.
Stout, a Nickerson graduate, registered nine kills on 16 swings without an error in the opening frame. She added a solo block and a pair of block assists to become the first WSU player to score 10 points in a set this season.
The opening set of the match was WSU’s longest of the season, as the Shockers finally capitalized on their sixth set point with a kill from Strand, who matched her career-high with eight kills in the match.
It was a similar back-and-forth battle in the second set, as Drake had a set point with a 24-23 lead, but Foster delivered two straight kills to put WSU back in front and Morgan Weber finished off the second-set victory with her only kill of the evening.
Three straight kills from Strand, Stout and Barbara Koehler provided separation for WSU in the third set, as the Shockers were able to win 25-21 and complete their 12th sweep of the season.
Stout finished with a match-high 14 kills, while Foster added 12 kills on a .522 hitting percentage. Strand registered 44 assists, while Gabi Maas added a match-high 17 digs with Weber adding 11 more.
If WSU prevails on the bracket against Montana State, the Shockers would likely play host to the NIVC championship match early next week. A date and location will be determined following the semifinal matches, as UTEP faces either South Florida or Georgia Southern this weekend in the other semifinal.
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