Good morning, Shocker Nation. Even with the brilliance of middle Morgan Stout, aided by all-conference setter Izzi Strand, the Wichita State volleyball team spent much of last season winning matches on the margins.
 
On Sunday, coach Chris Lamb talked about firepower with a smile after the Shockers defeated Arkansas 3-2 (25-18, 13-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-6) in the Shocker Volleyball Classic at Charles Koch Arena.

Last season, the Shockers won six times while recording fewer kills than their opponent. That's a tough way to win matches, especially against good teams.

🏐 Read RH: “Higher Than the Hogs” for more.

What else are we mixing into today’s piping hot edition of the Shocker Brew? Find out below!

🏐 Gabi Maas Named Defensive Player of the Week
🎳 Shocker Bowling Releases Schedule
🌾 And much, much more!

🌾 ONE BIG THING

Digs For Days. Redshirt junior libero Gabi Maas has been named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

In the Shocker Volleyball Classic, Maas averaged 5.88 digs per set, 1.13 assists per set and 0.25 service aces per set in the two matches and earned all-tournament team honors. She had a career-high 28 digs and eight assists in the five-set win over Arkansas and also added two service aces.

Maas and the Shockers are back in action Sept. 5-6 at the BYU Nike Invitational, where they face Incarnate Word, host BYU and Northern Colorado.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Pinning This Down. Head coach Holly Harris and the Wichita State women's program finalized their 2025-26 schedule on Monday, featuring 10 tournaments ahead of the Conference USA Championship, March 18-22 in Harahan, Louisiana. The Shockers have five fall tournaments and five spring tournaments.

Wichita State looks to build on a spectacular debut NCAA season that culminated in a trip to the 2024-25 NCAA Final Four in Las Vegas. The Shockers finished 87-38 and added both a CUSA tournament championship and Lansing Regional title to the program's lengthy list of accomplishments.

🎳 FULL RUNDOWN 📅

🔼 Mills Motivation. Very few people can give a better motivational speech than Head Shockers MBB Coach Paul Mills.

Mills got some laughs in quoting Jay-Z, saying, “Lack of ambition, no vision, is so whack.”

🔼 Future Shockers? The League 42C Foundation kids joined the Shockers at Eck Stadium this weekend, and it’s tough to say who enjoyed it more.

🌾 SHOCKER TRIVIA

A High-Value Asset. Which Shocker was named Tournament MVP last year after the WSU volleyball team snagged its first-ever AAC Championship?

Think you know the answer? Scroll to the bottom to find out!

🤝 SHARE THE BREW

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📆 ON THE DOCKET

*All times CST

Friday, Sept. 5
🏐 Volleyball vs. Incarnate Word - BYU Nike Invitational (Provo, Utah) @ 11 a.m.
🏐 Volleyball vs. BYU - BYU Nike Invitational (Provo, Utah) @ 7 p.m. | Live Stats

Saturday, Sept. 6
👟 Cross Country @ JK Gold Classic (Wichita, Kansas) @ M 6K 8 a.m. / W 5K 8:30 a.m. | Meet Info/Schedule
🏐 Volleyball vs. Northern Colorado - BYU Nike Invitational (Provo, Utah) @ 2 p.m.

🌾 Click here to see the full Wichita State Athletics Calendar

🤓 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Morgan Stout!

Stout completed her college career as one of the most accomplished middle blockers in Wichita State history, totaling 961 kills and 436 blocks over four seasons as a Shocker. She was named AVCA All-Region and First Team All-American Athletic Conference. Stout also became the first Wichita State player drafted into the Pro Volleyball Federation, going with the 25th overall pick to the Vegas Thrill.

🌾 Have a great week, Shocker Nation!