Izzi Strand arrived in Wichita in January 2023 to restart her volleyball career with the aim of standing as one of 64 in December.
On Sunday evening, she watched ESPN with her teammates, coaches and fans. When the NCAA volleyball bracket showed "Wichita State," she had what she wanted.
"We've all dreamed of this since we were 5," she said. "Especially being my last year and finally achieving one of my biggest goals, it's just such a wholesome feeling."
The Shockers (18-13) are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. They play at SMU (24-7), which is seeded second in the region, at 7 p.