| WKU Volleyball at UAB | |
| Date | Time | Friday, Oct. 31 | 7 p.m. CT |
| Location | Birmingham, Ala. I Bartow Arena |
| Tickets | UAB Ticket Office |
| Live Video | UABSports.com or C-USA Digital Network |
| Live Stats | |
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes |
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The WKU volleyball team (22-5, 10-1) looks to cause a scare at UAB (6-19, 3-7) on Friday's Halloween night, as the team will play its only match of the weekend at 7 p.m. CT in Birmingham.
Fans can watch video of the match with a paid subscription to UABSports.com or with a subscription to the Conference USA Digital Network. Live stats for the match will be located at UABSports.com while in-game updates can be found on Twitter via @WKUVolleyball.
With five matches remaining in the regular-season schedule, WKU has secured its spot in the Conference USA Tournament. However, WKU is still in the hunt for the regular-season title, as its only loss has come from league-leader UTSA, who is still undefeated in league action.
"At the end of the day it has to come from the 12 kids in uniforms in terms of coming out with energy. That's it," said WKU head coach Travis Hudson. "It's not just about playing great, but coming out with energy and trying to finish."
- Game Notes -
LAST TIME OUT
WKU went 2-0 last weekend with a sweep of FIU while coming back from a set down to win in four over Florida Atlantic.
Senior Heather Boyan led the team offensively and defensively at the net after hitting .469 with 25 kills and notching 13 blocks. Freshman Alyssa Cavanaugh averaged 3.14 kills per set after totaling 22 in the pair of games.
Along with Boyan's blocks, junior Noelle Langenkamp was also solid, tabbing 10 blocks, including five solo blocks. Sophomore Georgia O'Connell anchored the back row with 32 digs followed by freshman Jessica Lucas' 21. Lucas was one kill away from a triple-double after tallying 47 assists, 12 digs and nine kills in the win over the Owls.
SERIES VS. UAB
WKU trails in the overall series against UAB 3-22, including 0-5 in away matches. The teams met as former members of the Sun Belt Conference with a majority of the matchups coming in the 80's and early 90's. The teams last met in 1996, as the teams played in Bowling Green and a neutral-site tournament, as WKU took both wins. The last time the teams played in Birmingham was 1990 at the UAB Invitational, as the Blazers took the sweep.
WKU SECURES SPOT AT C-USA TOURNAMENT
With a 10-1 league record, WKU secured a berth to its first-ever Conference USA Tournament hosted by Southern Miss on Nov. 21-23. The Lady Toppers along with league-leader UTSA are the only teams that have clinched while the top eight teams advance to postseason action.
During its time with the Sun Belt Conference, WKU won five tournament championships. The team played six current C-USA members when they were also part of the SBC, posting a 13-14 against FIU, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, North Texas and UAB during tournament games. The Lady Toppers most recently faced FIU and North Texas in the 2012 Tourney on their way to the title.
BOYAN EARNS SECOND C-USA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Senior Heather Boyan earned her second Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week honor after totaling 13 blocks over the weekend for an average of 1.86 blocks per set. The Munster, Ind., native notched five blocks in a sweep of FIU, while putting up eight blocks, including three solos, in the win against Florida Atlantic. She has now posted five or more blocks this season in eight games, including six during conference play. Boyan ranks in the top 10 of block solos, block assists and total blocks in WKU's career records, as she has 101 blocks for the season.
LADY TOPPERS RECEIVE VOTES IN AVCA NATIONAL POLL
WKU continues to get attention from poll voters, as the Lady Toppers received votes to be ranked No. 34 in this week's AVCA poll. It's the third-straight week and fourth time this season that WKU is listed as receiving votes. WKU has either received votes or ranked in the AVCA top 25 at least one time over each of the last four seasons. WKU's highest ranking came in 2013 at No. 16 while the team spent 14-consecutive weeks in the top 25 over the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
WKU RANKED NO. 38 IN NCAA RPI
The Lady Toppers moved up three spots in the NCAA RPI after last weekend's results to No. 38, the highest of all C-USA schools. Cal State Northridge continues to be WKU's highest-ranked opponent in the ranking, now standing at No. 32. WKU's best win is over No. 34 Purdue, who is No. 13 in the AVCA poll. Overall, WKU is 2-2 against the top 50 while the team's five losses come to opponents ranked in the top 90.
WKU RANKS HIGH IN NATIONAL STATS
In the national stats, WKU continues its trend of ranking high, as the Lady Toppers are one of three teams (Colorado State, Liberty) in the nation with 22 wins, the most in Division I. The team's win-loss percentage is 24th, tied with Liberty at .815. In team statistics, WKU is 14th in hitting percentage with a .280 clip, as WKU has finished the past four seasons ranked in the top 10. The squad is also ranked in the top 40 in kills per set (34), assists per set (35) and blocks per set (39).
WKU'S OFFENSE CONTINUES TO BE TRADEMARK OF TEAM
WKU's offense continues to be a trademark for the program, as the Lady Toppers rank No. 14 in the nation with a .280 hitting mark. WKU is one of three teams over the past four seasons to finish the year ranked in top 10 of the statistical category, as the other two schools--Florida, Texas--are currently in the top 10.
In the league, Jessica Lucas leads WKU players, ranking fifth with a .353 mark followed by Noelle Langenkamp at sixth with a .345 clip. Heather Boyan is ninth among league players with a .332 percentage. WKU is the only school with three in the top 10. Extend it to national rankings, and Lucas is ranked 77th, Langenkamp 86th and Boyan at 115th. WKU is one of three schools this season to have hitters rank in the top 115, along with Florida and Wisconsin.
YOUNG LINEUP
After graduating five seniors from the 2013 squad, the 2014 Lady Toppers have a lot of youth in their lineup, using four in the lineup in all of 2014's games. Setter Jessica Lucas and outside hitter Sydney Engle have each started every match while outside hitter Alyssa Cavanaugh has 26 starts, adding immediate contributions to the team's efforts. Jackie Scott has also played every match, providing depth to the service line and back row.
Of the teams that rank above WKU in national win-loss percentage (WKU is 24th), no team has put in four freshmen in every match. It is one of the youngest lineups WKU has put on the court since 2010 when setter Melanie Stutsman started every match, outside hitter Paige Wessel started 21-of-36 matches and defensive specialist Ashley Potts started 20-of-36 matches. Since 2005, only seven Lady Toppers in their first season on The Hill started every match.
This year's freshmen class was ranked No. 29 by PrepVolleyball.com as one of the top recruiting classes in the nation.
CLOSING IN ON SINGLE-SEASON TOP 10 LISTS
Noelle Langenkamp and Heather Boyan are narrowing in on putting their names in WKU's single-season top 10 records. With 27 solo blocks this season, Langenkamp is just three away from tying Jordyn Skinner's 2012 total of 30. Boyan's 101 blocks is closing in on Megan Argabright's 2006 total of 118 total blocks.
The 2014 WKU volleyball season is being presented by the United States Marines. This season, the Marines and WKU Athletics are working together to promote the outstanding athletic and academic achievements of our female student-athletes. The Marines are proud to work with and support these future leaders of America.
For all the latest news and information on WKU volleyball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program on Twitter via @TravisHudsonWKU and @WKUVolleyball.
