WICHITA, Kan. — The winner of the first set had won the last 11 matches between Creighton and Wichita State — until Saturday.

The Bluejays came out strong to win the opener against the defending Missouri Valley champions, but the Shockers battled back for their 11th straight home victory with a 23-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-11 win.

Wichita State improved to 18-4 overall and 9-3 in the Valley. CU dropped to 9-14 and 6-7. Creighton had won the first meeting of the season in Omaha in four sets, the Jays' only win against a ranked opponent in 36 tries all time.

CU won a closely contested opening set that featured 13 ties and eight lead changes. The Jays took the led for good at 22-21 on an Allie Oelke's kill.

Wichita State went on to dominate the second set, hitting .389 and putting up six blocks while holding the Jays to minus-.034 hitting and six digs. The Shockers also led nearly the entire third set. The Jays fell behind 12-1 early in the fourth and never recovered.

Jessica Houts led CU with 15 kills, but also had 11 attack errors in her 29 swings. Also in double-figures was Alicia Runge, who had 11 kills. Nayka Benitez led the CU defense with 17 digs.

CU will be home three of the next four weekends, starting with a match next Saturday against Drake.

Creighton (9-14, 6-7) 25 14 22 11
At Wichita St. (18-4, 9-3) 23 25 25 25
CU (kills-aces-blocks): Sanford 5-0-2, Oelke 6-1-1, Bober 5-0-1, Houts 15-0-3, Runge 11-0-1, Schulze 2-0-1, Schulze 2-0-1, Greisch 0-1-0, Thorson 1-0-1. Totals 45-2-10.
WS: Stockman 16-0-1, Hooper 3-0-8, Church 0-1-0, Niggemeyer 12-0-2, McGee 8-0-7, Tokarz 1-0-2, Wadsworth 4-0-2, Backes 6-0-4. Totals 50-1-26.
Set assists: CU 40 (Oelke 1, Bober 33, Houts, Benitez 5), WS 46 (Stockman 2, Waldrof 1, Hooper 40, Granville 3).

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