MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Four different Lady Toppers registered at least eight kills with Kayland Jackson recording a match-high 11 as WKU Volleyball took down Middle Tennessee in four sets on Sunday afternoon. The Red and White claimed the victory with set scores of 25-21, 25-13, 20-25 and 25-16 from Murfreesboro, Tenn.
"We're still trying to find that level of consistency; we played really well at times and really poorly at times and that's not a good way to approach a road match," head coach Travis Hudson opened. "Chuck's team plays so hard all the time that you know that any moment you take your foot off the gas could be problematic."
With the victory, the Lady Toppers improved to 14-6 overall and 5-1 in Conference USA action. MTSU dropped to 5-13 and 0-5 on the year with the loss.
In the opening set from Alumni Memorial Gym, WKU trailed to the hosts by a 12-7 margin early on. Out of a Lady Topper timeout, Rachel Anderson and Taylor Bebout teamed up for a block as the Red and White began to chip away at the deficit. Shortly after, WKU pieced together a 10-1 run to open up a 20-16 advantage. Play stayed even from there as the Lady Toppers claimed a 25-21 first-set victory.
Set two opened with a 4-0 WKU run before the Blue Raiders got on the board. The Lady Toppers stayed hot and pushed their advantage to a 13-5 margin following another four-point push. MTSU pulled back within six at 19-13 but WKU finished strong with a 6-0 run for the 25-13 second-set victory.
Following the break, Middle Tennessee was the first to double digits, leading 10-7. WKU rallied back and took a late lead at 18-15 but the hosts responded again. MTSU closed the frame on a 10-2 run to claim its first set off WKU in three seasons.
In the fourth set, MTSU opened with a quick 3-0 run before WKU responded to knot it up. That run would be the start of an 11-2 run for an 11-5 Lady Topper advantage. The Blue Raiders wouldn't go away though as they pulled back within two at 14-12. Out of a WKU-called timeout, the Lady Toppers went to work, stringing together a 5-0 run to put the set out of reach. The Red and White closed the match with back-to-back kills from freshmen Katie Isenbarger and Lauren Matthews.
Jackson worked at an efficient .429 clip with 11 kills on 21 swings. Rachel Anderson finished with nine kills off 17 attacks for a .353 hitting mark. Sophia Cerino added eight kills and four blocks while Matthews finished with eight kills, seven blocks and three digs.
"KJ's playing on the right side for us now after playing on the left for most of the year and she's still trying to get a level of comfort over there," Hudson shared. "We've seen stretches of brilliance over there and we're thinking that is her long-term home."
Mary Martin and Taylor Bebout shared setting duties again. Bebout finished with 18 assists in the start while Martin took over down the stretch and finished with 14 helpers.
WKU finished with 11 combined blocks in the outing – its fourth double-digit block outing of the season and second straight.
Defensively, Payton Frederick racked up a match-high 16 digs to lead WKU in the category for the 10th time this season. Frederick has posted seven outings of 15 or more digs on her debut season.
"We just continue to find a way to win; we certainly don't feel like we're playing very good volleyball right now," Hudson continued. It seems like every season has a lull in the middle somewhere and you just have to fight your way through it and if you can win some matches on the road in Conference USA in the midst of that, then it's something you feel pretty good about."
NEXT UP:
The Lady Topper squad has a light weekend ahead with just one tilt on the schedule. UAB is slated to visit The Hill on Friday night for a 6 p.m. CT match.
TOPPER NOTES:
- WKU improved to 47-16 all-time against Middle Tennessee with the victory. MTSU grabbed a set off the Lady Toppers for the first time since Oct. 4, 2015.
- Run of the match: An 11-2 run early in the fourth set. MTSU jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in set four but WKU quickly responded by scoring 11 of the next 13 points to take control.
- The Lady Toppers notched a double-digit block effort (11) for the fourth time this season and second-straight match after posting 13 at Marshall.
- Lauren Matthews registered seven blocks for the second-straight match and third time overall this season.
- Payton Frederick owned a match-high 16 digs to lead WKU in the category for the 10th time this season. She now owns seven outings with 15+ digs this season.
- Kayland Jackson posted a match-high 11 kills on a .429 hitting clip. She's now led WKU in kills twice this season.
