Sept. 9, 2000
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University volleyball team split two matches on the second day of the Popcorn Classic, finishing second in the five-team event hosted by Valparaiso University. Junior left-side hitter Tara Thomas (Louisville, Ky./Assumption HS) made her second all-tournament team in as many weeks. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the IUPUI Invitational on Sept. 3.
Western opened the day with a resounding 3-0 (15-7, 15-12, 15-7) win over Mid-American Conference power Kent State. Junior middle hitter Jessica Willard (Louisville, Ky./Assumption HS) drilled a match-high 16 kills and Thomas (Louisville, Ky./Assumption HS) added 11 kills for the Lady Toppers. On defense, WKU limited the Golden Flashes to a .094 hitting percentage, sparked by a match-best 11 digs from senior left-side hitter Melissa Starck (Louisville, Ky./Assumption HS).
For the second consecutive day, a Lady Topper reached a personal milestone, as Starck became just the fifth player in school history to record 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs with eight kills against KSU. On Friday, senior defensive specialist Beaven Hill (Louisville, Ky./Assumption HS) notched her 1,000th career dig, becoming the sixth player in school annals to achieve that feat.
A six-point run in the first game freed Western from a early 1-1 tie and led the Lady Toppers to the game victory. WKU did not commit an attack error in game one, while hitting a solid .448 for the frame. Kent State bounced back well to open the second game, scoring the first six points. The Lady Toppers countered with eight of the next nine tallies to take a 9-7 lead, but the Golden Flashes used a quick four-point surge to regain the advantage. However, Western would have the final word, ringing up six of the last seven markers to take a two-game edge in the match.
Game three belonged to the Lady Toppers from the outset, as they raced out to a 10-1 lead. Kent State got as close as 14-7 before a Golden Flash attack error settled matters and put the victory in Western's column.
The Lady Toppers closed out the tournament on a sour note, losing 3-1 (14-16, 15-4, 15-12, 15-7) to Ohio. Thomas turned in her fourth double-double of the season with 21 kills and 10 digs, and freshman defensive specialist Tracy May (Louisville, Ky./Assumption HS) rolled up a season-high 21 digs for Western. The Lady Toppers hit a season-low .199 for the match and Ohio tied a WKU opponent season-high with 14 blocks.
Western trailed early in each game against the Bobcats, falling behind 10-2 in the first frame. OU had two chances to close out game one, but the Lady Toppers rallied and scored the last seven points to take the game. The Bobcats jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game two and never looked back, evening the match at a game apiece.
The pivotal third game was a tight affair, with neither side leading by more than three points. Western looked to have the game in hand, leading 12-10 and on serve, but Ohio fought back and scored the last five points to win the game and pull ahead in the match. The Bobcats rode that momentum into the fourth game, tallying the first eight markers and holding that margin the rest of the way to complete the match victory.
Western Kentucky (7-2) will be back in action at 7 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday when it takes on Ohio Valley Conference power Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tenn.
-- WKU --
