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Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's Tabitha Brown (10) bumps the ball against Iowa State on Sunday afternoon at Koch Arena. (Sept. 17, 2017, file photo)

Volleyball still receiving votes after two losses

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor September 5, 2018

Shocker volleyball is still receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll after losing back-to-back in games against two of the top teams in the country. WSU suffered their first losses of the season to...

Women's Cross Country runners compete in the 4000 M during the J.K. Gold Classic, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018.

Topham’s year off shaped WSU cross country for an impressive one-two punch

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor September 5, 2018

Rebekah Topham finished first in the J.K. Invitational on Saturday. Topham, a redshirt junior, is the first athlete — male or female — to win the competition four times. She won the event running...

Wichita Wingnuts fans stand for the final out of the game Monday, Sept. 3 against the Sioux City Explorers at Lawrence Dumont Stadium. The game was the Wingnuts' last at Lawrence Dumont, the sixth oldest operating ballpark in the U.S.

Fans reminisce, speculate on last day of baseball at Lawrence-Dumont

Matthew Kelly, Editor in Chief September 3, 2018

A lazy pop fly secured the Wichita Wingnuts' 4-1 victory over the Sioux City Explorers Monday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. The ball arched into the overcast sky before settling into second baseman Logan...

Wichita State's Rebekah Topham competes in the Women's 4000 M during the J.K. Gold Classic, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018.

Topham wins in return, Shockers take top spots at J.K. Gold

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor September 1, 2018

Rebekah Topham led the pack in her first competition after a season off. Topham placed first in the J.K. Gold Invitational Saturday. She claimed the top spot for the fourth consecutive year at the invitational...

Rebekah Topham will compete in the J.K. Gold Invitational this week. Topham redshirted her junior year.

Star distance runner to return in cross country season-opener

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 30, 2018

Rebekah Topham, Wichita State’s best female distance runner, will return to competition after a year-long hiatus. Topham, a junior, is a two-time Missouri Valley Conference champion. Her success in...

New fences are installed at Wilkins Stadium. The new fence features safety padding that is said to lessen the potential for injury should a player collide with the fence.

Wilkins Stadium upgrades nearing completion

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 29, 2018

Stadium upgrades at Wilkins Stadium are nearing completion. This week, WSU started installing new safety pads to the fencing structure along the outfield. Safety pads were a necessity among stadium...

Wichita State freshman Giorgia Civita Shelton hits the ball back to Memphis. (Nov. 24, 2017)

Volleyball prepares for No. 1 Stanford

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 29, 2018

Wichita State volleyball has a schedule loaded with NCAA Tournament teams. Saturday, WSU (3-0) — who has won two grind-it-out games against opponents expected to be strong RPI teams — will face the...

Wichita State's Giorgia Civita (19) bumps the ball to her teammate against Iowa State on Sunday afternoon at Koch Arena. (Sept. 17, 2017)

Volleyball wins first two of weekend series

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 26, 2018

Volleyball claimed victories in the first two games of their three-game road stretch. Sophomore Giorgia Civita had a career-high 34 digs in the season opener against James Madison. WSU scored five of...

Wichita State's head coach Kristi Bredbenner encourages players at the top of the fourth against Newman University in Wilkins Stadium (Sept. 30, 2017)

Wichita State bankrolls Bredbenner into a five-year extension

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 25, 2018

Wichita State has locked Kristi Bredbenner, head coach of the softball team, to a long-term contract. Bredbenner came to terms for a 5-year-extension, WSU Athletic Director Darron Boatright said. Bredbenner...

Wichita State's Koch Arena (2017)

Selection committee will no longer favor RPI system

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 23, 2018

The NCAA is changing the way it evaluates college basketball teams. Announced Wednesday, the NCAA will scrap the rating percentage index, commonly known as RPI, and replace it with a new system. RPI...

Wichita State volleyball players celebrate after completing a successful play during practice in Koch Arena.

Volleyball starts season Friday

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 23, 2018

Wichita State volleyball returns to action Friday when they enter a three-game road stretch to open its season. They’ll travel to the East Coast to face James Madison before then traveling to Howard...

Wilkins Stadium awaits new safety pads before the new fence can be completed.

Outfield viewing may be a thing of the past with new softball fences

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 14, 2018

Hitting one out of the park may be slightly more challenging this year at Wilkins Stadium. Wilkins Stadium, home of the Wichita State softball team, will be upgraded with padded fencing. The updated...

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