Box Score
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- No.21 WKU volleyball used a career-effort from Sydney Engle and stellar defense in order to advance to the Conference USA semifinals with a 3-1 victory over Marshall (25-22, 24-26, 25-14, 25-13).
After escaping with a 25-22 victory in the opening stanza, WKU dropped its first set since October 31 as Marshall tallied four consecutive points in order to rally from a 24-22 deficit as the Thundering Herd took the set, 26-24. Prior to the setback, WKU had won 16 consecutive sets.
WKU came out of the intermission a determined group as the Lady Toppers easily took the third and fourth sets in order escape the UTSA Convocation Center with their sixth consecutive victory with a 3-1 victory over Marshall.
In a hard fought battle between both teams, WKU sophomore Sydney Engle proved to be the difference for the Lady Toppers as the outside hitter finished with a career-high 16 kills on .519 hitting. Engle added six digs, three blocks and a service ace. Senior Noelle Langenkamp was the other Lady Topper to record a double-digit kill count as the veteran middle hitter added 10 to go along with seven total blocks.
WKU displayed a stellar defensive effort all night long as three Lady Toppers finished with double-digit digs led by junior libero Georgia O'Connell who tallied a match-high 19. Fellow junior Kaelin Grimes tied her season high with 15 digs while Rachel Engle added 10 for WKU.
Setter Jessica Lucas had a tremendous all-around effort for WKU as the sophomore finished with a match-high 44 assists to go along with nine kills, seven digs and seven total blocks.
Overall, WKU outhit Marshall .311 to .107 and held a commanding,12-4, advantage in total team blocks on the night.
WKU (29-3) returns to action Saturday afternoon as the Lady Toppers are set to meet the winner of No. 4 North Texas and No. 5 Florida Atlantic in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals in the UTSA Convocation Center at 2:30 p.m. CT.
