The loss dropped the Lady Toppers to 21-6 on the season and 8-3 in the Sun Belt Conference, while ASU improved to 22-7 and took a slim lead in the SBC East Division race as it improved to 9-3 in the league.
Western — energized by the return of junior setter Caron Blotch to the lineup — never trailed in game one, after taking the first two points on Lady Indian attack errors. After Arkansas State pulled even three times early on, WKU was able to pull out to a 10-7 lead on a kill by Amanda Cecil. Western was unable to build its lead any higher until it opened up a 24-20 lead on a Crystal Towler kill. Again ASU fought back to even the score at 27-27 on a Pip Soulsby kill before Western took the final three points, closing the game with a Lyndsey Broerman and Jessie Wagner block assist for a 30-27 win.
Arkansas State scored the first five points of game two, and jumped out to a 10-4 lead on a Caitlyn Mitchell kill. Western got as close as five (15-10) on a Blotch kill, but a 6-1 run opened up a 21-11 Lady Indian lead. Western got no closer as ASU evened the match with a 30-16 game-two victory.
Western stormed out to a 4-1 lead in game three thanks to kills from Wagner and Amanda Schiff, but the Lady Indians scored three straight to even things up a 4-4. The game would be tied two more times before ASU scored four straight to take a 10-6 lead. The teams traded points as Western stayed in reach until another 4-0 ASU spurt pushed the lead to 21-14 on a Mitchell service ace. WKU was able to get as close as three (28-25) after a Katie Peil ball handling error, but following a timeout Giedre Tarnauskaite put down a kill go get the Lady Indians to game point. Western got a kill from Schiff and got to 29-27 on a Tarnauskaite attack error, but Peil put down a kill to give ASU a 30-27 game-three victory.
Looking to force a fifth game, the Lady Topper stormed out to a 10-5 lead in game four. Despite allowing ASU back within two point, Western stayed in front for nearly the entire game. Arkansas State was able to stay within striking distance, and pulled even at 24-24 on a Towler attack error. After two more ties, WKU grabbed a 28-27 lead on a Tarnauskaite attack error. But following a timeout, the Lady Indians tied the game again at 28-28, then got a Tarnauskaite service ace and a WKU attack error to close out the match with a 30-28 win in game four.
Both teams had four players finish with double-digit kills. Schiff equaled her career high with 18 kills, while Broerman and Towler finished with 14 kill each. Wagner added 12 kills. Towler also added 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. Ashly Miller posted a match-high 25 kills in her return to WKU libero position, while Blotch posted a season-high 65 assists in her return.
Tarnauskaite posted a match-high 23 kills for ASU, with Mitchell adding 18 kills and 12 digs. Peil also posted a double-double with 61 assists and 15 digs.
Western will look to get back on track tomorrow when it faces Arkansas-Little Rock at 2 p.m. (CST) at Trojan Fieldhouse.
