Wichita State head coach Chris Lamb has officially unveiled the 2025 volleyball schedule, highlighted by a season-opening home tournament, a high-profile matchup with in-state rival Kansas, and a competitive non-conference slate stacked with NCAA tournament-caliber teams.
For the first time since 2007, the Shockers will begin their season at Charles Koch Arena, hosting the Shocker Volleyball Classic from August 29-31.
WSU opens against Kennesaw State on Friday, August 29, and wraps up the weekend with a showdown against SEC powerhouse Arkansas on Sunday, August 31.
Non-Conference Slate Features Multiple NCAA Tournament Teams
Wichita State’s 2025 non-conference lineup includes 12 opponents, seven of which ended the 2024 season ranked in the top 100 of the RPI.
Three of those—BYU, Kansas, and South Dakota—earned NCAA tournament berths last season.
After the home opener, the Shockers head west to Provo, Utah for a tournament hosted by national contender BYU.
They will face Incarnate Word and BYU on September 5, followed by a matchup against Northern Colorado on September 6.
WSU has played Northern Colorado in each of the last three seasons, with the Bears coming off a program-record 28-win campaign.
On September 11-12, Wichita State will compete in a tournament in Cookeville, Tennessee, facing Radford, Tennessee Tech, and Samford.
The Shockers return home on Tuesday, September 16, to host the University of Kansas, renewing their in-state rivalry on home turf.
The final non-conference stop is in Vermillion, South Dakota, where WSU will take on Drake, South Dakota, and Villanova—all three of which finished the 2024 season ranked inside the RPI Top 100.
AAC Play Begins Late September; Conference Tournament in Florida
Conference play in the American Athletic Conference begins on September 26 with a road trip to UAB. The 16-match AAC schedule features home contests against Tulsa, Memphis, UAB, Tulane, North Texas, East Carolina, Charlotte, and Rice.
Road trips include UTSA, Rice, Florida Atlantic, South Florida, Temple, and return matches with other conference foes.
The AAC Tournament will be hosted by South Florida and is set to begin on November 21 in Tampa, Florida.
Roster Highlights: Veterans Return, Transfers Add Depth
The Shockers return a core group of 13 players from their 2024 squad, which finished the season at 18-14.
Returning standouts include outside hitters Brooklyn Leggett, Emerson Wilford, Gracie Morrow, and Nadia Wasilewski, along with middle blockers Maddie Wilson and Allie Paulsen.
In the back row, Katie Galligan and Grace Hett return, joined by Gabi Maas, who missed the 2024 season due to injury but is expected to make an impact in 2025.
To strengthen the roster, Coach Lamb added four transfers:
- Sydney Dunning (Outside Hitter – Cal State Bakersfield)
- Elinor Engel (Middle Blocker – Central Missouri)
- Hannah Hawkins (Setter – High Point)
- Jordan Heatherly (Setter – Memphis)
Chris Lamb Enters 26th Season at the Helm
Head Coach Chris Lamb, entering his 26th season leading the program, boasts an impressive career record of 526-250.
His leadership continues to shape a competitive and resilient program as the Shockers aim to return to national prominence in 2025.
Wichita State Volleyball 2025 Schedule
| Date | Opponent/Event | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 (Fri) | Kennesaw State | Charles Koch Arena (Home) | Season Opener – Shocker Volleyball Classic |
| Aug 31 (Sun) | Arkansas | Charles Koch Arena (Home) | SEC Opponent – Shocker Volleyball Classic |
| Sep 5 (Fri) | Incarnate Word | Provo, UT | BYU Tournament |
| Sep 5 (Fri) | BYU | Provo, UT | NCAA Tournament Team |
| Sep 6 (Sat) | Northern Colorado | Provo, UT | Played last 3 seasons |
| Sep 11 (Thu) | Radford | Cookeville, TN | Tennessee Tech Tournament |
| Sep 12 (Fri) | Tennessee Tech | Cookeville, TN | Host Team |
| Sep 12 (Fri) | Samford | Cookeville, TN | |
| Sep 16 (Tue) | Kansas | Charles Koch Arena (Home) | In-State Rivalry |
| Sep 19–21 | Drake, South Dakota, Villanova (Dates TBD) | Vermillion, SD | South Dakota Tournament – All Top 100 RPI |
| Sep 26 (Thu) | UAB | Birmingham, AL | AAC Conference Opener |