Hilltoppers Sweep North Texas to Open C-USA Tournament Play

Thursday, April 1

Hattiesburg, Miss.

Noon CT

Western Kentucky University

-190,120 CUSA

North Texas

-1111,66 CUSA

North Texas

WKU

4/1/2021 3:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Post-Match Availability Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – No. 19 WKU Volleyball used an all-around team effort to advance to the Conference USA Tournament Semifinals with a 3-0 sweep of [4W] North Texas. Lauren Matthews and Kayland Jackson combined for 30 kills and a .541 hitting percentage while Logan Kael and Paige Briggs each tallied 19 digs to limit the high-powered Mean Green offense.

"Maybe one of the worst first-round draws in conference tournament history because North Texas is a championship-level team," began head coach Travis Hudson. "And we knew that from the time that we saw them on the bracket and that we would have to play very, very well today to get out of here with a win. I think our experience showed early. When North Texas was in control of things, I thought we stayed really composed, enough to be able to turn that thing a little bit and find a way to win. Respect for North Texas, I think this win speaks highly to the level of team that we have and we're glad to be moving on."

WKU improves to 19-0 on the season with its 16^th sweep of the season and has now won 57 of 60 sets this season. North Texas' season ends with an 11-11 record.

WKU trailed for much of the opening frame and wouldn't take the lead for good until breaking a 20-20 tie. The Hilltoppers stayed close though, using a couple small runs to slowly shift the momentum their way. After North Texas was the first to double digits, WKU fought back and would be the first to 20 and would break the tie with and block and a kill to force a Mean Green timeout. The sides would trade points the rest of the way as Paige Briggs' fourth kill of the frame gave WKU the 25-23 win.

Set two saw North Texas open up a 10-7 lead but the Hilltoppers stuck with the Mean Green who would lead as late as 12-10 before a 5-0 serving run from Hallie Shelton gave the Hilltoppers the lead for good at 15-12. UNT called its final timeout trailing 19-14 but the Hilltoppers claimed four of the next six points to add some separation. A Jackson kill followed by a North Texas attack error would secure the 25-17 second-set victory for the Red and White.

WKU operated at its most-efficient rate in the second set, owning a .471 clip with 18 kills against just two errors. The Hilltopper defense held UNT to its lowest rate of the match in the frame at .189.

Katie Isenbarger's serving helped WKU to a quick 4-0 lead in the third frame before the Hilltoppers climbed out to an 8-2 lead. WKU's lead would grow as large as 10 at 21-11 but North Texas would string together an 8-0 run and make things interesting. The final tie of the match would come at 25-25 before Briggs and Isenbarger struck for back-to-back kills to close out the set, 27-25. The Hilltoppers racked up a match-best 19 kills in the final set.

Matthews finished with 17 kills against one error on 29 swings for a .552 hitting percentage. Jackson was right there with her, racking up 13 kills with just one error for a .545 hitting clip. Briggs also joined them in double-digit kills with 10 to go along with 19 digs for her 11^th double double of the season.

Kael matched Briggs in the dig column as the duo accounted for 38 of the Tops' 62 digs. Ashley Hood added nine digs as well.

Isenbarger and Avri Davis tied for the team lead with three blocks apiece and each posted six kills.

Dieudonne posted a three-set match high 46 assists in the outing to go along with five digs.

LOOKING AHEAD
WKU Volleyball will face No. 2 seed from the West Division, UTEP, in Friday's noon CT semifinal match. The Miners downed [3E] Marshall in the C-USA Tournament Quarterfinals in straight sets.

WIESEMANN ORTHODONTICS
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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.