WKU VB Matches Program's Best Start at 18-1

Friday, October 11

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

Florida Atlantic

10/11/2019 9:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After dropping the opening set for just the fourth time this season, [RV] WKU Volleyball responded with victories in three-straight frames to claim a 3-1 win and snap Florida Atlantic's 21-match home win streak. With the win, not only did the Lady Toppers end the nation's second-longest home win streak, but they also match the best start in program history with an 18-1 record.

"I am really proud of our kids," head coach Travis Hudson opened. "There is a reason why Florida Atlantic had a home win streak of over 20 matches. They are a very talented, well-coached team."

With the four-set victory, WKU extended its win streak to 14-straight matches while adding its NCAA-best 18^th win. The Tops are now 4-0 in Conference USA action. Florida Atlantic dropped to 8-7 overall and 2-2 in league play with the loss.

The 2005 WKU squad was the only other team in program history to open a season with an 18-1 record. That Hudson-coached unit would finish with a 31-3 record including a perfect 12-0 Sun Belt mark before making the program's second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

After trailing by four points on numerous occasions to open play for FAU Arena, WKU Volleyball took its first lead of the match at 16-15. Florida Atlantic bounced right back and would work ahead to a 24-21 lead before WKU fended off a pair of set points before the Owls ultimately took a 1-0 lead in the match. Paige Briggs tallied five of WKU's 15 kills in the frame as the Tops worked at a .282 offensive clip.

WKU has lost the opening set in just four matches this season but has gone on to win all but one of those contests after tonight's result.

Down in a match after the first set for just the fourth time this season, WKU trailed early again in the second frame. The Lady Toppers faced an 8-4 deficit before turning the tables and going on a 6-0 run for a 10-8 lead. The Red and White would push ahead to an 18-11 advantage and never looked back, claiming the second set 25-17 to even the match at 1-1.

Out of the break, WKU jumped out to an early lead as a Nadia Dieudonne ace gave the Tops a 7-3 lead and forced an Owl timeout. WKU would push into double digits first with a 10-6 margin before racing out to a 15-9 lead to force the hosts to use their second stoppage. Florida Atlantic would battle all the way back to knot the frame at 23-23. From there, Briggs delivered her 11^th kill of the night before Lauren Matthews and Kayland Jackson teamed up for a block to shut the door on the 25-23 victory.

Up 2-1 in the match, the Red and White kept their foot on the gas in the final set and ran ahead to an 11-4 lead. Florida Atlantic wouldn't go away and pulled back within two at 16-14. The Tops would extend their lead as the frame came to a close and ultimately took set four 25-19.

The WKU offense delivered a balanced attack, working at a .315 combined clip. Briggs posted a match-high 17 kills on .282 hitting along with 12 digs for her 10^th double double of the season. Matthews was right behind her with 15 kills on .333 hitting to accompany her five blocks.

Kayland Jackson added nine kills with a .333 attack rate along with three blocks.

"I thought KJ really stepped up and made some big plays for us tonight," Hudson added.

Sophia Cerino added seven kills while working at an errorless .538 hitting clip and Katie Isenbarger chipped in six more kills.

Dieudonne facilitated the Hilltopper offense and notched 46 assists along with four digs, four kills, a block and an ace on the night.

Logan Kael joined Briggs with double-digit digs, tallying 11 for her 13^th double-digit dig showing of the season. Emma Kowalkowski added eight digs as the Red and White out-dug FAU 51-44.

Florida Atlantic (RPI 80) marks WKU Volleyball's 10^th top-100 RPI win of the season and is WKU's second-straight win of such after sweeping Marshall, who ranked 76^th.

NEXT TIME OUT:
WKU will continue its road trip on Sunday with a noon CT match at FIU. The Panthers entered the weekend owning the 10^th-best home winning streak in the nation at 13.

How to Follow WKU Volleyball: For complete information on WKU Volleyball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUVolleyball and head coach Travis Hudson at @TravisHudsonWKU. The team is also on Instagram and Facebook.