Oct. 20, 2002
Denver, Colo. - The Western Kentucky University volleyball team increased its winning streak to eight and remained undefeated in Sun Belt play with a 3-1 win over Denver on Sunday.
Western (22-4, 7-0 SBC East) never trailed in the opener after scoring the game's first three points. Despite being unable to gain an advantage, Denver (2-15, 1-6 SBC West) stayed close and was able to use a 4-0 run to pull even at 27-27. However, WKU got back-to-back kills from Jessie Wagner (Fr., Franklin, Ind.) to take a 29-27 lead. After a Lady Topper service error made it 29-28, the Pioneers up a ball into the net, giving Western a 30-28 win in game one.
The Pioneers took the first three points of game two, recording blocks on each play. WKU fought back to tie the game at 4-4, but was unable to take the lead until a DU attack error gave the Lady Toppers a 10-9 lead. Western remained in front until back-to-back kills by Andrea Baron, and a Pioneer block gave Denver a 20-18 lead. Western regrouped with two straight points after a timeout to tie the game at 20-20, but Denver responded with four of the next five points to open up a 24-21 lead. Western got back within a point when a Wagner and Cynda Derbort (Jr., Maroa, Ill.) made it 25-24, but Denver remained in front and evened the match with a 30-26 game-two victory.
The Lady Toppers came out aggressive in game three, scoring the first four points and climbing out to an early 7-3 lead. DU battled back within a point when a WKU service error made it 18-17, but WKU scored the next three points to increase the lead to 21-17. The Pioneers got back within a point when an Olympia Hughes kill made it 27-26, but Amanda Schiff (So., Indianapolis, Ind.) recorded three kills on the next four plays, giving Western a 30-27 win and a 2-1 lead in the match.
Again it was Denver who jumped out to the early lead in game four, scoring four of the first five points. The Lady Toppers continued the trend of the first three games, battling back to tie the game at 6-6 on two straight service aces by Amanda Cecil (So., Louisville, Ky.). With the game tied again at 9-9, the Lady Toppers when on a 6-2 run to open up a 15-11 lead. Western allowed the Pioneers to get no closer than four. Ahead 18-14, the Lady Toppers used another run, this time scoring six of seven, to increase the lead to 24-15 on a Schiff kill. Western went on to win game four 30-23 and win the match 3-1.
Schiff led three Lady Toppers in double figures with 16 kills. Wagner added 15, while Crystal Towler (Fr., Sussex, Wis.) chipped in 11. Tracy May (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) recorded 25 digs for the second straight match, while Sara Noe (Sr., Louisville, Ky.) recorded a double-double with 51 assists and 11 digs.
WKU returns home for two conference matches next weekend. The Lady Toppers will host New Orleans on Friday (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m. (CDT), the turn around on Saturday to entertain South Alabama in a 1 p.m. contest. The time of the USA match was changed from a 4 p.m. start to 1 p.m. so not to conflict with WKU's homecoming football game with Indiana State.
- WKU -
