| WKU Volleyball at Middle Tennessee | |
| Date | Time | Sunday, October 4 | 6:00 p.m. CT |
| Location | Murfreesboro, Tenn. I Alumni Memorial Gym |
| Live Video | GoBlueRaiders.com |
| Live Stats | GoBlueRaiders.com |
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes |
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-- After a four-day break, WKU volleyball returns to action Sunday evening as the Lady Toppers are set to travel to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for a 6 p.m. CT. match against Conference USA-foe and regional-rival Middle Tennessee (3-14, 1-2 C-USA).
WKU, winners of 10 consecutive contests, is coming off a tough stretch which saw the Lady Tops play four matches in a span of six days. WKU completed the challenge in stride; however, as the Lady Toppers won all four matches, three of those victories coming in straight sets.
"I'm just really proud at how the team has gutted out a really difficult stretch both physically and mentally," said head coach Travis Hudson. "We've been able to get a couple days of rest and today we'll get back in the gym and try to get better. I couldn't be more pleased with the team's mentality to this point."
WKU has been led all season by the dynamic duo of sophomore Alyssa Cavanaugh and senior Noelle Langenkamp. The two have helped the Lady Toppers lead Conference USA and rank in the top 15 nationally in both team-hitting percentage (.280) and opponent-hitting percentage (.141). WKU's hitting currently ranks 15th nationally and the Lady Tops rank 11th in the nation in opponent hitting.
Cavanaugh's 15-kill effort paced the Lady Tops to a sweep of Lipscomb this past Tuesday in WKU's final non-conference match of the year. Overall, Cavanaugh leads the team with 209 total kills (3.54/set) while Langenkamp's .391 hitting clip and 0.92 blocks/set continue to pace the Lady Toppers.
"Noelle and Alyssa have been really good throughout the first month of the season but I think I'm as excited about players like Haley Bodway and Sydney Engle," Hudson said. "These are kids that have been kind of up and down through the month of September but they are really starting to turn the corner. That's when we'll really start to become a special group."
Freshman Rachel Anderson has been tremendous in WKU's 3-0 start to the Conference USA season as the rookie compiled a career-high .615 hitting percentage in WKU's sweep of LA Tech this past Friday. For her efforts, Anderson was named C-USA's Freshman of the Week this past Monday.
"It's been an interesting journey for Rachel so far," Hudson said. "She came out of the gates playing really well and then she hit a couple games where she fell off. To see her bounce back from that really tells you about her mental makeup."
"Sometimes a week-long slump can turn into a two-month slump and she just doesn't let that happen," Hudson continued. "So much greatness is ahead of her and she just needs time in the gym. Every day I look forward to getting into the gym and helping her become a better player."
WKU (16-2, 3-0 C-USA) comes into Sunday's contest against Middle Tennessee riding a 14-match winning streak against Conference USA foes. In 2014, the Lady Toppers swept the Blue Raiders in their first meeting as C-USA foes and currently lead the overall series, 40-16.
"It's always been a great rivalry," Hudson said. "Middle Tennessee has had some tremendous teams throughout the years and we've had some pretty competitive matches. We're going down there Sunday and we realize in a rivalry game you throw everything out and we anticipate that it's going to be a tough battle."
Live Stats will be available for the match between the Lady Toppers and Blue Raiders. Free streaming video will also be available via GoBlueRaiders.com. Fans are also encouraged to follow in-match updates on WKU Volleyball's twitter account (@WKUVolleyball).
-WKU Notes-
THE BOOK ON THE BLUE RAIDERS
Middle Tennessee comes into Sunday's match with the Lady Toppers having dropped three of its last four matches. MT's lone victory came with a sweep of Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 19, while the Blue Raiders dropped their previous three matches to Chattanooga (1-3) and conference foes UTSA (3-0) and UTEP (3-1).
Offensively, MT is led by senior Chelsea Ross who has recorded team-highs with 141 total kills and 4.70 kills per set so far this season. As a team, MT is hitting .200 on the year led by LaVondria Covington's .463 hitting percentage. Setter Brianna Pannone leads the Blue Raiders with an average of 5.87 assists per set.
Defensively, the Blue Raiders are holding its opponents to .257 hitting as sophomore Jacqueline Lux paces the team with 4.35 digs per set while Covington leads the charge at the net, notching 0.97 blocks per set.
A SWEEPING EFFORT
WKU leads Conference USA teams in sweeps so far in 2015 as 11 of its 16 victories have come in straight sets. UTSA and FAU rank second in sweeps as both teams have recorded seven on the year. The Lady Toppers haven't dropped a set in their last three matches, winning all three in straight sets.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
The Lady Toppers entered the AVCA Coaches Poll rankings at No. 20 after defeating then fifth-ranked Wisconsin and capturing the 2015 HotelRED Invitational to start out its 2015 campaign. Currently, WKU sits just outside of the top 25 at No. 27 after receiving 39 votes in the latest preseason poll released this Monday. The program's all-time best ranking came in 2013 when the Lady Toppers achieved a No. 15 ranking by the AVCA.
LET ME ASSIST YOU
Sophomore Jessica Lucas currently paces the Lady Tops and leads C-USA with an average of 10.82 assists per contest. Nationally, Lucas is ranked 48th in assists per set and 20th with 632 total assists.
As a team, WKU ranks third in assists per set (12.81). Lucas picked up her third C-USA Setter of the Week honor on Sept. 21.
