Shockers struggle against Italian National team

Junior+Jordan+Hinkle+makes+a+dive+attempt+to+give+the+team+a+chance+to+score+against+the+Italian+National+team+Monday+night+at+Koch+Arena.

Junior Jordan Hinkle makes a dive attempt to give the team a chance to score against the Italian National team Monday night at Koch Arena.

Wichita State’s volleyball team played in front of a rowdy crowd at Charles Koch Arena Monday night. The team played five sets against the Italian National team.

The Shockers lost in five sets in the exhibition match.

The exhibition match was an opportunity for players who haven’t seen much court time this season.

“Mary Ashton Floyd and Jaclyn Roddy have been pushing to get out on the court and since we haven’t practiced, this was their opportunity tonight,” coach Chris Lamb said.

During the first set it was unclear who was going to win, with neither team building a substantial lead. After being tied at 18-18 and then 20-20, the Shockers finally pulled out the first set with a kill by Chelsey Feekin to take the set 22-20.

In the second set, the Italians came out strong with a 9-2 lead to start off. The Shockers had a brief run but to no avail, as the Italians won the set 21-16.

The third set was another strong play by the Italians, and the Shockers couldn’t get anything going. The Shockers were down big and couldn’t recover as they dropped the third set 21-10.

The Shockers looked like they were going to compete in the fourth set as the score bounced back and forth before the Italians pulled away to take a 17-12 lead, and then rolled to take the set 21-15.

In the final set, the Shockers came out strong with a 4-0 lead on serves from Katie Reilly and kills from the front row. The Italians answered with a run of their own to even everything up. Then the score went back and forth before it was all tied up at 20-20.

Floyd came up for a big kill and the Italians then committed a hitting error to end the set and match.

Roddy led with the team with 12 kills, Feekin lead the team with 42 assists and then the team was lead in digs by Dani Mostrom with 10.

Coach Lamb spoke after the game on Jaclyn’s performance.

“ Jaclyn had 12 kills on 30 swings,” Lamb said. “If she can put that [kind of performance] together in [Missouri] valley play from the left side, we think she can become a point scoring arm out there.”

WSU plays Southern Illinois at 7 p.m. Friday in Koch Arena and will play the Aces from Evansville at the same time and place Saturday night.