2 Kids 1 Sandbox Shockers
WICHITA — Two Newton players will footfall on the cloister of Koch Arena at atomic one added time this weekend, as seniors Abbie Lehman and Emily Hiebert beforehand the Wichita State volleyball aggregation into the NCAA Tournament.
“We appetite to comedy able-bodied and do the best we can,” Lehman said. “We appetite to get as far as we can. We’re all activity to accept to comedy to our potential. We are all activity to accept to comedy well.”
The Shockers, who went best in their aboriginal division in the American Athletic Conference, will booty a 27-3 almanac into Friday's bout adjoin the Big South champions of Radford (25-4). That follows the 6 p.m. bout amid Kansas (22-7) and Missouri (20-11). The two winners will accommodated on Saturday to beforehand to the Sweet 16.
“We’ll be ready, no amount what,” Hiebert said.
Hiebert and Lehman accept been two leaders for the Shockers the aftermost four years. Hiebert has been the starting setter during that time and holds the best career abetment almanac at WSU. Lehman is the career baton in blocks and is fifth best in absolute kill
Both garnered assorted all-conference honors, as able-bodied as amateur of the anniversary honors. Both additionally becoming several bookish honors.
“I feel like I got two top abstract picks in the aforementioned draft,” WSU drillmaster Chris Lamb said. “They are complete, advantageous players. They accept done as abundant at their positions as anyone has anytime done here. They accept been amazing bodies as able-bodied the accomplished way.”
Hiebert knew for years that she capital to be a Shocker.
“In my eight brand and apprentice year, I was advancing to affected here, and they knew I was interested,” Hiebert said. “I’m a big homebody, and this was abutting to home. I additionally admired the coaches and the added players. It’s been an amazing affair actuality here.”
“Emily was consistently around,” Lamb said. “She came to camps and did all the kids stuff. She was a abundant hitter, but I knew she would be a abundant setter.”
It wasn’t until Lehman's chief year that it became bright that she would additionally end up at Wichita State.
“With Abbie, I didn’t see the volleyball aptitude until the summer of her chief year,” Lamb said. “That’s aback you started to see her get off the attic quick, change admonition quick. I was watching her acceleration up her arm. It took me a lot best with Abbie than it did with Emily. But already she got here, she never looked back.”
Said Lehman: “I knew this is breadth I capital to play. Having Emily appear actuality was a big allotment of it. It was abutting to home."
Both players redshirted as freshmen.
Lehman already has her bachelor’s amount and will accomplishment her master’s amount abutting fall. She said she ability go across to try and comedy professionally.
Hiebert graduates in the bounce with a amount in education.
This weekend will be the aboriginal time the Shockers accept hosted the NCAA Tournament. The accomplished two years, Wichita State catholic to Lincoln, Neb., falling to Nebraska in the annular of 32 and accident to TCU in the aboriginal annular aftermost year. Lehman and Hiebert additionally went to Lawrence in 2013, accident to Kansas in three sets.
Lamb has begin a lot of success with breadth players. He currently has nine Kansas players on his roster, including Hiebert and Lehman. Seven are aural about 30 afar of campus.
“This isn’t the best saturated volleyball area,” Lamb said. “It’s a acceptable one. There accept been some added acceptable players in this breadth that accept gone abroad — Kansas, K-State, Oklahoma and others. I aloof achievement to accomplish this affairs as adorable as I can”
Tickets for this weekend's matches are accessible at GoShockers.com.
