BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - On Friday night, the WKU volleyball team swept the UALR Trojans (25-19, 25-15, 25-17) in Bowling Green to improve to 13-6 this season and 2-2 in the Sun Belt.
In the first set, the Lady Toppers recorded 12 kills and a .179 to take a 1-0 advantage in the match. After falling behind 2-0 to begin the set, WKU tied the set up after a kill by freshman Jordyn Skinner and an UALR error. After battling early with the Trojans, the Lady Toppers were able to take the lead for the final time at 13-12 after an attack error by the Trojans. Then, WKU continued to extend their lead and sealed the set victory after a serving error by UALR.
WKU easily took a 2-0 lead in the match after winning the second set dominating the Trojans on offense. In the set, WKU posted a .412 hitting percentage after recording 17 kills and just three errors while UALR finished with a .062 hitting percentage with nine kills and seven errors. To begin the set, WKU took a 3-0 lead before UALR was able to score their first point. Up 3-1, WKU never allowed UALR to challenge their lead and went on to outscore the Trojans 22-14.
The Lady Toppers were even hotter in the third set posting a hitting percentage of .467 after recording another 17 kills and just three errors in 30 attempts. After taking an early lead, the Lady Toppers extended their lead to five after scoring four consecutive points. Up 8-3, WKU continued to pull ahead going ahead by as many as ten points. Senior Brittany Bowen secured the win for the Lady Toppers after recording one of her eight kills of the night.
In the match, WKU was led by sophomore Tiffany Elmore who finished the night with a .692 hitting percentage after recording nine kills and zero errors. She also led the team in blocks with four. Senior Abbie Siljendahl also had an outstanding night tallying ten kills and zero errors for a .556 hitting percentage. Sophomore Lauren Stuckel led the team in assists with 27 and freshman Sarah Rogers and senior Lindsey Gould both finished with a team-high nine kills.
As a team, WKU finished with a .340 hitting percentage after recording 46 kills, 39 assists, two aces, 18 blocks and just 11 attack errors. The Lady Toppers held the Trojans to just 29 kills and .094 hitting percentage after committing 20 errors.
WKU will continue play tomorrow when they host Arkansas State at 3 p.m. CDT.
