COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Paige Briggs and Lauren Matthews join a special group of WKU Volleyball greats who have taken part in the USA Volleyball pipeline as the rising sophomore and junior earned an invitation to the U.S. Collegiate National Team – Anaheim program. The pair of Lady Toppers are two of 28 current collegiate players on the roster.
The CNT Anaheim will train June 21-27 in Anaheim at the American Sports Centers where they will compete side-by-side with the U.S. Women's National Team as it makes final preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Earlier this month USA Volleyball named the 28-player CNT-Gold roster, which will train July 5-12 in Anaheim. In total, 56 CNT athletes were selected through the U.S. Women's National Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 21-23 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"We are very proud of what both Lauren and Paige have accomplished with USA Volleyball," head coach Travis Hudson shared. "It is an honor to have them represent our program at the USA Volleyball level. I think having two kids selected is a statement to the level at which our program is competing nationally."
This past season, Matthews and Briggs helped the Lady Toppers post an overall record of 32-2 to earn the program's best-ever winning percentage at .941. The Tops ran the table in league play with a perfect 14-0 record after being picked third in the preseason and ultimately claiming both the regular season and tournament championships. WKU has now won 10 of the possible 12 championships since joining Conference USA prior to the 2014 campaign.
In just her second season on The Hill, Matthews (6-0, middle hitter) was selected as both the AVCA South Region Player of the Year and Conference USA Player of the Year prior to landing AVCA Honorable Mention All-American honors. The Indianapolis, Ind., native spent more than two months leading all of NCAA Volleyball in hitting percentage and ranks first with a .448 clip, which sits second on WKUs' single-season list. Throughout the course of the season, Matthews earned four of the league's Offensive Player of the Week honors in addition to setting WKU's single-match hitting percentage record at .882.
In league matches, Matthews worked at a scorching .483 mark. The sophomore finished with 470 kills with 205 coming in C-USA matches. Matthews has also been a force to be reckoned with at the net defensively, tallying 139 blocks for a 1.18 blocks per set average this season. She owns 36 solo blocks (fifth on WKU's single season list) and 103 block assists (eighth on WKU's single season list).
After earning C-USA's Player of the Year honor, Matthews also collected C-USA Tournament MVP recognition after an outstanding showing in Houston.
An Ortonville, Mich., native, Briggs (5-10, outside hitter) made an immediate impact for the Lady Toppers and made her presence felt on the conference scene as well, claiming three of the first four Freshman of the Week accolades. She went on to finish the season even stronger, winning four of the final five honors. The Ortonville, Mich., native posted 14 double-double performances across the season, including one at both No. 17 Rice and No. 24 Louisville. Briggs started all 118 sets for the Tops this season as a six-rotation player and racked up 388 kills and 344 digs across the season while working at a .281 hitting clip. WKU's third-ever AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year, Briggs also earned a spot on C-USA's All-Tournament Team.
In addition to collecting AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year nod, Briggs was also named Conference USA's Freshman of the Year.
Briggs and Matthews join a special group of Lady Topper greats who have been a part of USA Volleyball. In 2007, Megan Argabright (2005-08) was named to the USA Developmental team that traveled to Buenos Aires to compete against the Argentina National Team. Aquila Orr (2006-09) was a member of the USA Third Degree Team that traveled to Italy to compete during the summer of 2007. Ashley Potts (2010-13) was named an alternate for the USA Volleyball A2 National Team in 2013. Prior to her junior season on The Hill in 2017, Rachel Anderson (2015-18) earned a spot on the U.S. Collegiate National Team – Minneapolis Program.
U.S. Collegiate National Team – Anaheim Roster
Name (Position, School, Height, College Eligibility Remaining, Hometown, Youth Club)
Anota Adekunle (M, Rice University, 5-11, 2, Humble, Texas, Willowbrook)
Lauren Barnes (L, University of Wisconsin, 5-6, 1, Naperville, Illinois, 1st Alliance)
Joslyn Boyer (L, University of Iowa, 5-6, 3, Downers Grove, Illinois, 1st Alliance)
Paige Briggs (OH, Western Kentucky University, 5-10, 3, Ortonville, Michigan, Legacy VBC)
Brynn Carlson (OH, Kansas State University, 6-4, 2, Woodbury, Minnesota, Northern Lights)
Grace Cleveland (OPP, Purdue University, 6-3, 2, Bloomington, Illinois, Eastside VBC)
Melody Davidson (M, Butler University, 6-2, 2, Anderson, Indiana, Munciana VBC)
Jenna Ewert (S, University of Colorado, 5-10, 2, Antioch, California, Absolute Volleyball Club)
Zoe Fleck (L, UCLA, 5-6, 2, Granada Hills, California, Sunshine)
Grace Frohling (OPP, University of San Diego, 6-5, 3, Los Angeles, California, Sunshine)
Phoebe Grace (M, University of Utah, 6-2, 2, Laie, Hawaii, Ka Ulukoa)
Mia Grunze (OH, Ohio State, 6-3, 2, Waterford, Wisconsin, Milwaukee Sting)
Paige Hammons (OH, University of Florida, 6-1, 1, Louisville, Kentucky, adidas KIVA)
Claire Hoffman (OH, University of Washington, 6-2, 2, Pleasant Hill, Oregon, Webfoot Juniors)
Jael Johnson (M, Purdue University, 6-2, 2, Mooresville, Indiana, Circle City)
Karrington Jones (M, Texas Tech University, 6-0, 2, Little Elm, Texas, Dallas Skyline)
Elizabeth Juhnke (OH, University of South Dakota, 6-0, 3, Lakeville, Minnesota, M1)
Kayla Lund (OH, University of Pittsburgh, 6-0, 1, Pasadena, California, SG Elite Roshambo)
Lauren Matthews (M, Western Kentucky University, 6-0, 2, Indianapolis, Indiana, Asics Team Indiana Elite)
Sterling Parker (OPP, University of Colorado, 6-2, 3, Martinez, California, Absolute Volleyball Club)
Hannah Pukis (S, Washington State University, 5-11, 3, Tacoma, Washington, Kent Juniors)
Kylie Robinson (S, University of Oregon, 5-10, 3, Upland, California, San Gabriel Elite)
Julia Sangiacomo (OH, Santa Clara University, 6-5, 3, Sonoma, California, Absolute Volleyball Club)
Tristin Savage (M, UCLA, 6-7, 3, Dallas, Oregon, DSK)
Mckenna Slavik (S, Clemson University, 6-1, 3, St. Charles, Illinois, Sports Performance)
Mallory Talbert (M, Texas A&M, 6-3, 2, Montgomery, Texas, Willowbrook)
Azhani Tealer (OPP, University of Kentucky, 5-10, 3, Grand Prairie, Texas, Texas Image)
Carey Williams (L, University of Portland, 5-7, 1, Kahuku, Hawaii, Kaulukoa)
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.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- Big Red
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
