Lady Toppers Win Conference USA Tournament Championship

Sunday, November 23

Hattiesburg, Miss.

12:30 PM

Western Kentucky University

30-5

Rice

23-10

Rice

WKU

11/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Nov. 23, 2014

Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

HATTIESBURG, Miss.— The WKU volleyball team (30-5) punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship with a 3-2 win over Rice (23-10) on Sunday in Reed Green Coliseum.

"There were two champions playing out there today," said WKU head coach Travis Hudson. "I've been on both sides of it. I've felt what Rice is feeling right now. They are a great group of kids, and they deserved to win as well. Our kids just hung around. It was everything you would hope a championship match would be and more. I'm just proud to say that we found our way on top."

The match couldn't have been closer for all the marbles, as the game had scores of 25-18, 13-25, 25-18, 22-25 and 18-16.

Senior Heather Boyan was named Tournament MVP after posting 11 kills and seven blocks in the win over Rice. Freshmen Alyssa Cavanaugh and Jessica Lucas were named to the All-Tournament Team. Cavanaugh had a team-high 17 kills while Lucas notched 49 assists, nine digs, five kills and five blocks.

"It's impossible to single out any one player because we play so many kids," Hudson said. "So many kids were a big part of this. Obviously it's special for Heather in her senior year to be the MVP of the tournament, after being a kid who didn't play as a freshman. I'm just proud of them all, and it's something they worked really hard to achieve."

Junior Haley Bodway tallied 16 kills with two blocks with fellow classmate Noelle Langenkamp tabbing 11 kills and four blocks. Sophomore Georgia O'Connell put up a solid 22 digs, leading all players in the match.

For Rice, four Owls had double-digit kills, led by Chelsey Harris' 18. Sara Blasier put in a double-double of 54 assists and 10 digs while Daniela Arenas had a team-high 20 digs. Portia Okafor led the Owls with seven blocks followed by Leah Mikesky's six blocks.

WKU took the first frame 25-17 after holding Rice to a .091 hitting mark. The Owls found themselves down 7-3 and calling an early timeout. Rice came back to tie it at 10 and again at 14, but WKU took the lead back at 15-14 with a kill by Langekamp before going on a 5-0 run to distance itself at 22-16 on towards the win.

Miscues hurt WKU in the second set, allowing Rice to win 25-13. WKU had 11 attack errors to go with two blocking errors and a service error, hitting just -.108 for the frame. Rice took advantage of six team blocks with Okafor tabbing four. The Owls jumped out to a 7-1 advantage before a 5-0 run with four-consecutive blocks put Rice up 19-8. WKU was able to find success late, but the deficit would be too much to overcome, leaving it tied at a set each for the break.

WKU shook off the second set's offensive woes to hit .432 with 18 kills during the third set. Up 7-3 at a Rice timeout, WKU forced the Owls to use its final break after a kill from Cavanaugh set the score at 13-7. The Owls got within three at 16-13, but the Lady Toppers held on to take the win at 25-18.

The fourth set came down to the final points, as Rice took the last three points of the frame to win 25-22. WKU grabbed the first lead of the set, as a 3-0 lead was capped off by a Rachel Engle ace. Lady Toppers continued to be in control until Rice brought it to a 14 stalemate. Five more tied scores brought it to 22 each before the Owls forced a deciding fifth set.

When WKU needed a way to win, the Lady Toppers found a way. Trailing 8-5, WKU tied it at 11 after a kill by Bodway and attack error from the Owls had Rice heading to the benches. Rice came back to lead 13-11, but after a WKU timeout, another kill by Bodway and an Owl error had it at 13 apiece. WKU had match point at 14-13, but Rice continued to find ways to score, matching WKU three times to be tied at 16. The offense came together to have a Sydney Engle and Bodway kill finish off Rice and give WKU the championship.

WKU will await its postseason fate with the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. The 64-team field will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

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.