This generation of Shockers volleyball returns to the top of the MVC
It took three weekends of non-conference play for Dani Mostrom to see what she wanted from Wichita State’s volleyball team.
In 2014, the Shockers opened non-conference play with two losses and failed to grab a signature win. One season later, the Shockers defeated then-No. 21 Kentucky and won at Marquette a week later, showing Mostrom things would be different.
“When we played Kentucky, I felt whether you were on the court or on the bench, you were supporting the team,” she said. “I felt that everybody knew what they were supposed to be doing and having the confidence in your teammates. If you’re hesitant that someone next to you isn’t going to do what they said they’d do … you can’t execute the plays.”
The Shockers took the momentum from a strong tournament run, overcame an early home loss to Missouri State, and claimed its second Missouri Valley Conference title in three years. Top-seeded WSU (24-8) opens MVC Tournament play in a semifinal on Friday against either fourth-seeded Northern Iowa (19-13).
Last season’s third-place finish in the MVC snapped a streak of seven-season streak of NCAA Tournament appearances. That team rebuilt after the departure of 2013 co-MVC Players of the Year Chelsey Feekin and Ashley Andrade.
“We were very competitive last year, we just couldn’t beat a better team,” WSU coach Chris Lamb said. “We beat better teams early this year.”
This season’s success puts this generation back on track. With a No. 34 rank in the RPI, WSU is in good shape to grab an at-large NCAA bid if it doesn’t win the MVC’s automatic bid.
“Last year, we were pretty disappointed,” sophomore setter Emily Hiebert said. “We’ve been working so hard, and in the off-season, summer and spring, we were always talking about ‘This is for the banner.’”
WSU improved largely because of experience as a group, many of them freshmen, that started in prominent roles in 2014 grew up in 2015.
Hiebert and sophomore middle Abbie Lehman continued to give WSU’s a foundational scoring threat. Senior Katie Reilly moved into a bigger scoring role as a slide-hitting middle and junior Katy Dudzinski emerged after playing little in her first two seasons. Sophomore Mikaela Raudsepp, after a concussion disrupted her freshman year, provided a consistent threat on the left.
Mostrom improved her range in the back row and earned MVC Libero of the Year honors, joining Hiebert, Lehman and Reilly on the All-MVC team announced Thursday. Raudsepp was named All-MVC second team.
The addition of junior Jody Larson, who transferred from Oklahoma, provided versatility and experience. With Raudsepp, freshman Shimen Fayad, an MVC All-Freshman selection, and Jenny Whitledge playing important roles, WSU is more athletic than last season.
What happened off the court is just as important. This team’s identity, players say, is highlighted by great chemistry and leadership.
“We’re hard-working and we’re a family,” Hiebert said. “It’s so important, because it’s such a long season. Sometimes the most talented teams don’t even do as well in the end, because they’re not in it together.”
WSU enters tournament play settled on the 5-1 offensive system after experimenting with a 6-2 for three weeks.
“We’ve found a lineup that is working well,” Lehman said. “I think it’s good for us because we have two great slide-hitting middles with Katie Reilly and Katy (Dudzinski), and that plays to their strengths.”
Should the Shockers reach Saturday’s final against second-seeded Southern Illinois, the play of their outside hitters will be under the microscope. The Salukis swept WSU this season, 3-2 in Carbondale and 3-0 on Friday at Koch Arena. In the recent meeting, SIU’s blocking schemes took Raudsepp and Fayad out of the match.
“We have to hold our own with the top teams on the left,” Lamb said. “And behind the setter. I’d like to see somebody go up and be physical behind the setter.”
Paul Suellentrop: 316-269-6760, @paulsuellentrop
MVC TOURNAMENT
At Springfield, Mo.
Thursday
No. 4 Northern Iowa 3, No. 5 Illinois St. 1
No. 3 Missouri St. 3, No. 6 Loyola 0
Friday
No. 1 Wichita St. vs. UNI , 5 p.m.
No. 2 Southern Illinois vs. MSU, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
All matches on ESPN3.com
All-MVC
Player of the Year — Lily Johnson, Missouri State
Libero of the Year — Dani Mostrom, Wichita State
Setter of the Year — Kinsey Batten, Missouri State
Freshman of the Year — Ali Line, Illinois State
Coach of the Year —Justin Ingram, Southern Illinois
First team
S — Kinsey Batten, Missouri State
OH — Andrea Estrada, Southern Illinois
MB — Kayla Haneline, Northern IOwa
OH — Amie Hield, Northern Iowa
S — Emily Hiebert, Wichita State
OH —Lily Johnson, Missouri State
MB — Jaelyn Keene, Illinois State
MB — Abbie Lehman, Wichita State
L — Dani Mostrom, Wichita State
MB — Taylor Pippen, Southern Illinois
MB — Katie Reilly, Wichita State
OH — AshleyRosch, Illinois State
S/RS — Meg Viggars, Southern Illinois
Second team
MB — Sami Hansen, Loyola
S — Caroline Holt, Loyola
MB — Simone House, Missouri State
OH — Genesis Miranda, Evansville
MB — Kynedi Nalls, Indiana State
L — Courtney Pence, Illinois State
OH —Mikaela Raudsepp, Wichita State
OH — Morgan Reardon, Loyola
All-Freshman
L — Emily Butters, Missouri State
OH —Shimen Fayad, Wichita State
MB — Ali Line, Illinois State
L — Courtney Pence, Illinois State
MB — Piper Thomas, Northern Iowa
OH — Lexi Varga, Illinois State
This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 7:20 AM with the headline "This generation of Shockers volleyball returns to the top of the MVC."