Box Score
MADISON, Wisc. -- The WKU volleyball team knew it had its work cut out for them as the Lady Toppers ventured up to Madison, Wisconsin, to face the fifth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in a sold-out UW Field House Friday evening.
The Lady Toppers didn't back down, however, as WKU triumphed over the host Badgers in four sets (13-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-19) in order to escape a hostile environment with its first victory of the 2015 season.
WKU had a rough opening stanza as the Badgers came out of the gates swinging. Wisconsin easily took the set, 25-13, thanks in large part to a .500 team hitting percentage.
The Lady Tops flipped the switch in a large way as WKU rallied from a 19-15 deficit in the second set, outscoring Wisconsin, 10-4, the rest of the way in order to capture the set, 25-23, and even the match.
WKU (1-0) carried the momentum of its late second set rally the rest of the way as the Lady Tops captured the third and fourth sets by twin 25-19 margins in order to upset the highly ranked Badgers, 3-1.
"I'm very proud of our kids for hanging in there," WKU head coach Travis Hudson said. "We got off to a poor start in the first set as Wisconsin came out playing really well. Our experience really showed in the second set and we really settled down enough to keep in the match."
WKU's triumph over the Badgers marks the third consecutive season that the Lady Tops have knocked off a ranked Big Ten foe as WKU defeated then eighth-ranked Purdue, 3-2, last season in E.A. Diddle Arena after knocking off the #16 Boilermakers, 3-2, in West Lafayette in 2013.
Sophomore Alyssa Cavanaugh led the charge offensively for the Lady Tops as the outside hitter finished with a team-high 13 kills off 29 attacks.
"Cavanaugh really struggled for us early on but then later in the match she played well and became a factor for us and that's what you hope your big time players will do in this type of environment," said Hudson.
WKU finished with a .263 team hitting percentage on the match compared to Wisconsin's .250 mark. Senior Noelle Langenkamp was the other Lady Topper to finish with double-digit kills as the veteran middle hitter used a .296 attack percentage to record 11 strikes on the match.
Freshman Rachel Anderson had an outstanding rookie debut for the Lady Tops, finishing with a .412 hitting percentage on nine kills off 17 attacks.
Sophomore Jessica Lucas had a tremendous overall outing, finishing with seven kills, off a team-best .500 hitting percentage, 43 assists and eight digs.
The Lady Toppers return to action Saturday as WKU is set to face the College of Charleston for a 10 a.m. CT. contest and then will close out the 2015 HotelRED Invitational with a 4:30 CT. match against Colgate at the UW Field House.
WKU Volleyball season tickets are on-sale now and can be purchased online at wkusports.com or by calling the WKU Ticket Office at 270-745-5222 or 1-800-5BIGRED. Flexible ticket packages offer fans 12 general admission vouchers that can be used throughout the season at all home WKU volleyball games.
