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
Mack Smith

Mack Smith, Reporter

Mack Smith is a second-year s reporter, photographer and videographer for The Sunflower. He’s a senior majoring in journalism and media production and hopes to land a job in journalism after graduation.

All content by Mack Smith
Speaker of the Senate Matthew Phan addresses the Student Government Association Senate at their weekly meeting.

[Photo] Student Government Association midterm elections are coming up, here’s what to know

Kass Lewis, News editor
September 8, 2025
Junior setter Jordan Heatherly celebrates after getting a kill on Aug. 31. Heatherly had three kills and 49 assists against Arkansas.

Volleyball’s Jordan Heatherly finds new home as a Shocker

Mack Smith, Reporter
September 7, 2025
Wichita State's bench gets down on their knees and slaps the ground while Arkansas is serving. Arkansas ended with six service errors on Aug. 31.

Shocker volleyball wins two, loses to ranked opponent at BYU Nike Invitational

Mack Smith, Reporter
September 6, 2025
Redshirt sophomore Allie Paulsen jumps to spike the ball during Wichita State's Black and Yellow scrimmage on Aug. 23. Paulsen, a Wichita native, graduated from Andover Central High School.

Sophomore outside hitter Gracie Morrow (left) smiles from the sidelines during a game against Arkansas on Aug. 31. Morrow graduated from Maize South High School.

Sophomore outside hitter Gracie Morrow puts her hand over her heart during the playing of the "Star Spangled Banner" on Aug. 31. Morrow didn't suit up for the first two games of Wichita State's 2025 season.

The Shockers hug after beating Arkansas in the fifth set. The Shockers won 15-7 in the fifth and final set on Aug. 31.

Junior libero Gabi Maas pushes junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning after a kill on Aug. 31. The Shockers ended the match against Arkansas with 64 kills.

The Shockers yell that ball is bounced out of bounds on Aug. 31. Wichita State beat Arkansas, 3-2.

Senior outside hitter Emerson Wilford points and screams at freshmen middle blocker Janaya Weitkemper after she got a kill against Arkansas. Weitkemper recorded her first collegiate kill in the win on Aug. 31.

Wichita State celebrates after junior middle blocker Maddie Wilson gets a kills against Arkansas. Wilson had nine kills in the 3-2 win on Aug. 31.

Junior middle blocker Maddie Wilson and senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett go to block the ball on Aug. 31. The Shockers were out-blocked by the Razorbacks 11-9.

Junior middle blocker Maddie Wilson goes to spike the ball against Arkansas. Wilson hit .500 for nine kills in the Aug. 31 win.

Senior libero Katie Galligan hugs junior setter Jordan Heatherly after she got an ace on Aug. 31. The Shockers had six aces against Arkansas.

Junior setter Jordan Heatherly points to her jersey before the match starts against Arkansas. Heatherly has started in both of the Shockers' games this season.

Junior middle blocker Maddie Wilson's shot is blocked by an Arkansas defender. The Razorbacks blocked 11 shots on Aug. 31.

Freshman outside hitter Olivia Cohee spikes the ball against two Arkansas blockers. Cohee had a .286 kill percentage on the 3-2 win on Aug. 31.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning jumps to block a shot on Aug. 31. Dunning had one block in the win against Arkansas.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning goes to push the ball over the net against Arkansas. Dunning made a game-high 20 kills in the win on Aug. 31.

WSU head volleyball coach Chris Lamb talks with junior libero Gabi Maas after she fell to the floor. Maas returned to the game right after a timeout.

WSU head volleyball coach Chris Lamb yells to his players on Aug. 31. Lamb is in his 26th year as the Shockers' head coach.

Freshman outside hitter Olivia Cohee ducks out of the way of the ball on Aug. 31. Cohee is one of 10 ten freshmen on the Shockers' roster.

WSU volleyball assistant coach Katie Zimmerman talks with juniors Maddie Wilson and Jordan Heatherly before the second set against Arkansas. The Shockers lost the second set, 25-13, on Aug. 31.

WuShock holds an iPad that reads "Bring Me Boss Hog" on Aug. 31. The Shockers beat Arkansas, 3-2.

WSU head volleyball coach Chris Lamb talks to his player in between sets on Aug 31. Lamb is 527-251 as the Shockers' head coach.

The Shockers celebrate after scoring a point against Arkansas. The Shockers beat the Razorbacks, 3-2, on Aug. 31.

Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett puts her hands up to block a shot on Aug. 31. Leggett blocked three shots against Arkansas.

Sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen tries to spike the volleyball past an Arkansas player. Paulsen ended the game on Aug. 31 with four kills.

Senior libero Katie Galligan puts her arms up after the Shockers score a point on Aug. 31. Galligan had 13 digs in the win over Arkansas.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning screams after getting a kill against Arkansas. Dunning had a game-high 20 kills on Aug. 31.

[Photo] Shocker volleyball rebounds with five-set win over Arkansas

August 31, 2025
Wichita State high-fives Kennesaw State after the game on Aug. 29. The Shockers lost, 3-0.

Freshman outside hitter McKenzie Jones celebrates after getting her first collegiate kill on Aug. 29. The Shockers' team includes nine other freshmen.

Juniors Hannah Hawkins and Maddie Wilson set up a play on Aug. 29 against Kennesaw State. Hawkins made 10 assists and Wilson made four kills in the loss.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning goes to tap the ball over the net against Kennesaw State. Dunning made four kills in the loss to the Owls.

Senior libero Katie Galligan talks with graduate assistant coach Annalie Heliste during a pause in play on Aug. 29. Galligan made eight digs in the loss to Kennesaw State.

WSU head volleyball coach Chris Lamb challenges a play against Kennesaw State. The Shockers lost the season-opener, 3-0.

The Shockers celebrates after scoring a point against Kennesaw State. The team scored 69 points in the loss on Aug. 29.

Sophomore libero Grace Hett tries to save the ball from hitting the ground on Aug. 29. Hett was unsuccessful on her diving attempt.

Junior setter Jordan Heatherly sets the ball up for sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen. Heatherly ended the game with a team-high 14 assists on Aug. 29.

Junior setter Hannah Hawkins throws the ball up to serve it. The Shockers had one ace in the 3-0 loss against Kennesaw State.

Sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen pushes the ball over the net on Aug. 29. Paulsen ended the game with a career-high seven kills.

Freshman outside hitter Olivia Cohee goes up to spike the ball on Aug. 29 against Kennesaw State. Cohee made three kills in her collegiate debut.

Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett attempts block the ball from going over the net. The Shockers had seven blocks in the 3-0 loss on Aug. 29.

Senior outside hitter Emerson Wilford spikes the ball on Aug. 29. Wilford ended the game against Kennesaw State with three kills.

Sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen cheers on her teammates from the sideline. Paulsen made her first career start in the game against Kennesaw State on Aug. 29.

Junior libero Gabi Maas dives over fellow junior Sydney Dunning to save the ball. The Shockers lost to the Owls in straight sets on Aug. 29.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning hits the ball past two Owls defenders on Aug. 29. Dunning ended the game against Kennesaw State with four kills.

[Photo] ‘Lack of firepower’: Shocker volleyball swept by Kennesaw State in season-opener

August 29, 2025
The Shocker volleyball starters interlock hands before the match against Kennesaw State on Aug. 29. WSU's starting lineup was made up of five returners and two newcomers.

Junior middle blocker Maddie Wilson throws a ball into the crowd before the season-opener on Aug. 29. Wilson has played the last three years for the Shockers after transferring from Idaho.

The banner for the Shockers' win in the 2024 AAC Championship drops on Aug. 29. The Shockers beat FAU in straight sets to win the championship last November.

The Shockers break the huddle before their game against Kennesaw State on Aug. 29. WSU opened its season at home for the first time since 2007.

Wichita State's volleyball team takes a picture with a group of young fans at the end of the Black & Yellow scrimmage on Saturday. The Shockers season starts on Aug. 29.

Senior libero Katie Galligan signs autographs for fans after the Black and Yellow scrimmage on Aug. 23. Last year Galligan ended the year as the team's starting libero.

A kid watches as junior setter Hannah Hawkins signs an autograph for them after the Black and Yellow scrimmage on Aug. 23. Hawkins is a transfer from High Point in North Carolina.

The Black and Yellow teams high-five after the end of the fifth set on Aug. 23. The Black team won WSU's intersquad scrimmage, 4-1.

Junior setter Jordan Heatherly sets the ball to her teammate on Aug. 23. Heatherly, a Memphis transfer, had 1213 assists in two seasons with the Tigers.

Sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen jumps to hit the ball. Paulsen has 10 points in her collegiate career.

Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett spikes the ball over the net on Aug. 23. Leggett made 266 kills last season, most of any returner.

Senior libero Katie Galligan high-fives with junior setter Jordan Heatherly after she made a save for the Black team on Aug. 23. Heatherly is a transfer from Memphis.

The Yellow team's bench celebrates a point on Aug. 23. The Black and Yellow scrimmage was a preseason intersquad scrimmage.

Freshman opposite hitter Danielle Moore tries to put the ball over net on Aug. 23. Moore is the only freshman opposite hitter listed on the roster.

Sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen celebrates after the Yellow team scores a point in WSU volleyball's Black and Yellow scrimmage. Paulsen is one of two Wichita natives on the team.

Freshman Jenna Cubbage tries to push the ball to the other side while freshman Janaya Weitkemper and senior Brooklyn Leggett try to block it. Last year the Shockers made 275.5 blocks as a team.

Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett tries spiking the ball for a kill on Aug. 23. Leggett was the only Shocker named to the preseason All-American Conference team.

The Black team congratulates freshmen outside hitter Olivia Cohee after a kill on Aug. 23. Cohee is one of nine true freshmen on the roster.

The Black team tells the officials that there was a touch on a play during the Black and Yellow scrimmage on Aug. 23. The officials did not overturn the call.

The Yellow team celebrates after scoring a point in the Black and Yellow scrimmage on Aug. 23. The Yellow team averaged 20 points a set.

Senior outside hitter Emerson Wilford tries to get the ball over the net on Aug. 23. Last year, Wilford had 252 kills in 31 matches.

Junior setter Hannah Hawkins screams at sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen celebrate after a kill during the Black and Yellow scrimmage. Paulsen made eight kills last season.

Sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen spikes the ball over the net. WSU volleyball held an intersquad scrimmage on Aug. 23.

Sophomore Allie Paulsen and freshman Jenna Cubbage try to block junior Sydney Dunning's spike. WSU held its Black and Yellow scrimmage on Aug. 23.

Redshirt freshman setter Sarah Musial prepares to serve the ball during the Black and Yellow scrimmage. The Yellow team lost on Aug. 23, 4-1.

Sophomore outside hitter Nadia Wasilewski celebrates with her teammates after a kill on Aug. 23. The Yellow team lost to the Black team, 4-1.

Junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning spikes the ball during the Black and Yellow scrimmage. The Black team beat the Yellow team, 4-1

Juniors Sydney Dunning and Jordan Heatherly high-five after the Black team scored a point in the Black and Yellow scrimmage. Dunning and Heatherly both transferred to WSU over the offseason.

WSU volleyball assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Katie Zimmerman talks to her team during the Black and Yellow scrimmage. Zimmerman coached the Black team on Aug. 23.

Freshman outside hitter Jenna Cubbage ties her shoes before the Black and Yellow scrimmage starts on Aug. 23. The Yellow team lost, 4-1.

The Black team interlocks hands before the first set of WSU's Black and Yellow scrimmage. The Black team won the first set, 25-19.

The Yellow team stands for the national anthem before the Black and Yellow scrimmage. The Yellow team won one of the five sets on Aug. 23.

The Black team celebrates a fourth set win in Wichita State volleyball's Black and Yellow scrimmage. The Black team won four sets to one on Aug. 23.

[Photo] What Shocker volleyball learned from its Black and Yellow scrimmage

August 23, 2025
Brady Hamilton pitches for Wichita State on May 3. The Shockers lost, 6-1, against the East Carolina Pirates.

Shocker baseball player reflects on All-Star game, championship game experience ahead of junior season

Mack Smith, Reporter
August 20, 2025
WSU volleyball head coach Chris Lamb speaks to reporters after the team's first practice on Aug. 4. Lamb is entering his 26th year as the Shockers' head coach.

Senior libero Katie Galligan answers questions from reporters on Aug. 4. Galligan recorded 2.98 digs per set last season, first on the team.

Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett answers a question on Aug. 4. Leggett is in her third year with the Shockers after transferring from Colorado Mesa, an NCAA Division II school.

Senior outside hitter Emerson Wilford answers questions after Wichita State's first practice on Aug. 4. Wilford averaged 2.10 kills per set on a .150 attacking percentage last season.

Wichita State's volleyball team listens to head coach Chris Lamb at the end of practice on Aug. 4. The Shockers open their season at home for the first time since 2007.

Wichita State volleyball players high-five after the completion of their first practice on Aug. 4.

Sophomore middle blocker Allie Paulsen goes up to spike the ball at practice on Aug. 4. Paulsen appeared in five matches last year and made eight kills.

[Photo] ‘Submarine ride’: Shocker volleyball finds its depth ahead of 2025 season

Owen Prothro, Reporter
August 12, 2025
Junior setter Hannah Hawkins sets the ball at practice on Aug. 4. Hawkins transferred to Wichita State over the offseason from High Point in North Carolina.

Freshman libero Addisson Gardner bumps a ball at practice on Aug. 4. Gardner is one of nine true freshmen on the Shockers' roster.

Redshirt junior libero Gabi Maas bumps the ball at practice on Aug. 4. Maas redshirted last year due to a knee injury.

Junior middle blocker Maddie Wilson spikes the ball past two of her teammates at practice on Aug. 4. Wilson made 121 kills last season in 76 sets.

Sophomore outside hitter Gracie Morrow raises her hand to ask a question on Aug. 4. Morrow appeared in 17 matches last season during her freshman year.

Wichita State head volleyball coach Chris Lamb adjusts where two players set their hands to go for a block. The Shockers made 275.5 blocks last season, good for the most in the conference.

Load More Stories