Engel Signs With Shockers

It's been quite a year so far for Andale senior Lindsey Engel. She and her Indian teammates had a very successful volleyball season and last Wednesday Engel signed her letter of intent to play volleyball at WSU. To top it all off, Engel was crowned the homecoming queen at Andale for 2008. "We did really well," Engel said of Andale's season. "We finished second in our league, which we haven't done in a long time." Coach Carey Jones took over the Andale program this fall, and the Indians flourished under new leadership with a 28-12 record. "We really improved with our new coach," Engel said. "Coach Jones will definitely develop the program in future years." For Engel, the Shockers have always been the only team for her. Her love of the black and gold started when she began playing club volleyball for Shockwave when she was 13 years old. "I have always wanted to play for WSU," Engel said. "Since I began playing volleyball, I wanted to be a Shocker. They're the 11th-ranked team in the country!" The Shockers' success has reached its peak this season. The team just clinched the Missouri Valley Conference with an undefeated record. What Wichita area prospect wouldn't want to stay at home to play volleyball? "They have a great program," Engel said. "Plus playing in front of a hometown crowd will be awesome." As a part of the Shockwave program, Engel has had the pleasure of being coached by past and present WSU volleyball players like current Southwestern coach Cori Meyer and current WSU libero Kelly Broussard. "It's so much fun watching players that I will soon become teammates with," Engel said. "And I get to watch ones that have coached me have success on the court." Like Broussard, Engel is a libero, a defensive specialist. At 5-foot-8, Engel is one of the smallest people on the floor, but what she lacks in height, she makes up for with toughness. Libero is probably the most gritty position on the floor. "My job as libero is to take as many passes and digs as I can," Engel said. "I have to try and make them perfect so the setter can execute the play." Engel is one of several area volleyball stars who have signed with WSU as an invited walk-on. Haley Dotson of Andover High and Brianna Kaiser of Valley Center will also play for Wichita State. "I will be red-shirting my first year along with the other '09 recruits," Engel said. "Coach Lamb wants us to learn and train hard for a year before we earn our playing time." The Shockers have nine juniors on the roster this season which will create a huge turnover after next season. This should give this year's recruiting class plenty of opportunities to see the floor in 2010-2011. Engel is ready and willing to do whatever she can to earn playing time. "We are scholarship eligible after our red-shirt year," Engel said. "But we all know we will have to work hard to earn our spot on the team."