Nov. 12, 2013
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University volleyball team (24-5, 14-1) continues the home stretch of the regular season with its final midweek game, as the Lady Toppers host Georgia State (9-20, 4-11) Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Game Information
• Wednesday, November 13; Georgia State at 6 p.m.; E.A. Diddle Arena
Viewing Information
• Gametracker available at WKUSports.com
• Live video broadcast available at WKUSports.tv
Promotions
• Special Olympics Night--All SOKY participants will receive one free ticket while friends and family can purchase unlimited $3 tickets.
Clinching Scenario
With one more win in the regular season, WKU will claim the outright regular-season title for the Sun Belt Conference. It would be WKU's 11th season title and 10th under 19-year head coach Travis Hudson.
Versus Georgia State
WKU holds a 3-0 series advantage over Georgia State. The team took a pair of 3-1 wins in 1989 in Bowling Green and 2002 in Statesboro, Ga. The last meeting came early in the SBC season with WKU sweeping the Panthers in Atlanta by scores of 25-19, 25-18, 25-12.
In that match, sophomore Noelle Langenkamp put down 15 kills with no errors to hit .789. The hitting percentage placed her fifth in WKU's single-match records for hitting percentages. Fellow classmate Haley Bodway added 12 kills while senior Ashley Potts had 18 digs. Freshman Kaelin Grimesposted all three of WKU's service aces.
No. 1 Seed for SBC Tournament
WKU clinched the No. 1 seed for the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Tournament with wins over Louisiana-Lafayette and UALR last weekend. It is the third-straight year that WKU will hold the top spot. WKU looks to become the first team in SBC history to win the regular season and tournament three years in a row.
Overall, it is WKU's sixth time to enter the tournament in the No. 1 spot. WKU has won the tournament four out of five years when seeded first, including the last four (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012). WKU didn't take the crown in 2001 after falling to FIU in the final match.
Melanie Stutsman Heading to Career Milestone
With 39 more assists needed to tie the record, senior setter Melanie Stutsman will become WKU's all-time career assist record holder. The Floyds Knob, Ind., native has over 5,100 career assists in her time on The Hill. She is one of three active players in the NCAA to have over 5,000 assists in their career, and the second Lady Topper to hit the milestone. Stutsman is currently fifth in the SBC career assists record while second in career assists during the rally-scoring era behind MTSU's Leslie Clark's 5,692.
Stutsman's 11.66 assists per set this season has her ranked 12th in the nation while first in the SBC.
RPI Update
WKU moved up in this week's RPI, now holding at No. 46. Against the top 100 in the RPI, WKU has a 3-4 record with wins against Purdue (32), Virginia (69) and Western Michigan (93) while falling early in the season against USC (5), Florida State (24), Ohio (35) and Ohio State (41). Extending it to the top 125 in the RPI, WKU is 9-4 after including the victories over UNLV (111), two over UALR (114), two over Texas State (115) and Dayton (124).
Ashley Potts Named Senior CLASS Award Finalist
WKU defensive specialist Ashley Potts was named one of 10 national finalists for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, given annually to student-athletes who excel both on and off the court. With her achievements in the award's four areas of excellence--community, classroom, character and competition--Potts will now face a nationwide vote to determine one-third of the final result. Fans can vote once a day at seniorCLASSaward.com now until Dec. 9.
Potts is the first WKU student-athlete to be named a finalist since baseball infielder Matt Payton was selected in 2010.
The Louisville, Ky., native is up against nine other finalists, including Jennifer Cross (Michigan), Natalie Hagglund (USC), Emily Hartong (Hawaii), Caroline Jarmoc (Kansas), Chloe Mann (Florida), Ariel Scott (Penn State), Bailey Webster (Texas), Lauren Wicinski (Michigan State) and Carly Wopat (Stanford).
To view full games notes, click here.
For all the latest news and information on WKU volleyball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program on Twitter via @TravisHudsonWKU and @WKUVolleyball.
