Sept. 27, 2013
TROY, Ala. - The Western Kentucky University volleyball team (11-4, 1-0) opened Sun Belt Conference play with a sweep of Troy (5-10, 0-1) at Trojan Arena on Friday night behind the performance of senior setter Melanie Stutsman.
Stutsman led the team with her second double-double of the season, as she recorded 38 assists and 14 digs. Sophomore Haley Bodway added 12 kills while redshirt senior Paige Wessel had 10 kills and three blocks.
Senior Ashley Potts tallied 10 digs in the contest while junior Mollie Pajakowski had a pair of service aces. Junior Heather Boyan once again led the team at the net with five blocks while also tabbing eight kills.
For Troy, Marija Zelenovic had 14 kills along with eight digs. Trojan setter Alexandra Alexander also had a double-double of 32 assists and 11 digs, as Ali Dowdall led the team with 12 digs.
WKU quickly bounced back from an opening Troy service ace to gain an 8-5 lead after kills from five different Lady Toppers. After taking a 16-12 lead and forcing a Trojan timeout, the Lady Toppers continued to use an all-around offensive effort, as the team hit .400 for the set and won 25-19.
A Wessel and sophomore Noelle Langenkamp block gave WKU a 4-1 advantage early in the second set before Troy tied it at 5 each. However, WKU rolled out five-straight points to go up 10-5 after a spark from a Bodway kill and back-to-back solo blocks from the Minnesota native. The Trojans got within two at 10-8, but a freshman Georgia O'Connell ace boosted WKU to a 14-9 lead. WKU continued to hold its distance, as a sophomore Rachel Engle kill sealed the 25-16 victory.
Kills from Wessel, Bodway and Langenkamp pushed WKU to a 7-2 lead to open the final set. Troy would get within three, but back-to-back kills by Bodway gave WKU a 16-11 lead and have Troy call a timeout. Out of the break, Pajakowski recorded one of her service aces to put WKU on track to a 25-16 win.
WKU continues its road swing in Alabama, as the team travels to Mobile to face South Alabama on Saturday, September 28 at 5 p.m. CT.
For more information on WKU volleyball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team on Twitter via @TravisHudsonWKU and @WKUVolleyball.
