With Old Dominion in the program's inaugural season, this weekend marks the first-ever meeting between the sides and the Hilltoppers' first trip to Norfolk, Va., in program history.
Friday's and Saturday's matches will be streamed on cusa.tv, Conference USA's home for live events, for fans who elect to subscribe.
MATCHES 17-18
WKU (16-0; 10-0 C-USA) at Old Dominion (7-8; 4-6 C-USA)
March 26 & 27, 2021 | 6 p.m. CT & 11:30 a.m. CT
ODU Volleyball Center | Norfolk, Va.
BROADCAST
Friday:
Stats | CUSA.tv
Saturday:
Stats | CUSA.tv
Match Notes: WKU | Old Dominion
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU and Old Dominion are meeting for the first time in program history with this weekend's series. The ODU program is in its inaugural season this 2020-21 school year.
- The Tops' weekend matches in Norfolk are a make-up from the previously postponed series. Play will open at 6 p.m. CT on March 26 and at 11:30 a.m. CT on March 27.
- The Hilltoppers' 16-0 start is a new best for the best undefeated start in program history. An 8-0 reading was previously the top undefeated mark and had been achieved by three prior WKU squads.
- WKU has dropped just three sets all season winning 48 of 51 total sets played this season. WKU's second match against Marshall was the first time all season the Tops trailed in a match after the Herd claimed the opening frame to end WKU's 25-consecutive sets won streak. West Virginia would also take the opening frame off the Tops before Hudson's crew rattled off the next three sets to secure the victory.
- Nadia Dieudonne was recently narrowed down from one of 30 candidates to one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. She is the only Power 5 player to make the cut. The honor is awarded to student-athletes who have notable achievements in four different areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. VOTE FOR DIEUDONNE HERE
- WKU Volleyball will be wearing "AC" patches on all of its jerseys this season to honor the life of Hilltopper legend Alyssa Cavanaugh who passed away on December 25, 2020. Cavanaugh is the most-decorated player in program history.
- In Conference USA's first season utilizing divisions, WKU has been predicted to win the East Division by the league's coaches. WKU's counterpart from the West was Rice – a program that the Hilltoppers have no shortage of high-level battles against.
- Rice, 12-0 in league matches this season, secured the West Division title. WKU locked up the East Division title with last weekend's sweep of the Blue Raiders in Murfreesboro.
- Junior Lauren Matthews was selected as the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year and was joined on the Preseason All-Conference Team by Paige Briggs and Nadia Dieudonne. All three won superlative awards last season and would go on to earn AVCA All-Region accolades.
- WKU Volleyball jumped two spots to the No. 18 ranking in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll (AVCA). This is the Tops' best ranking since the program's best mark at No. 16 in 2013.
WIESEMANN ORTHODONTICS
Your 2020-21 WKU Volleyball spring season is presented by Wiesemann Orthodontics – get the smile you have always wanted!
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.
