WKU owns a 6-12 all-time record playing in the NCAA Tournament. The Hilltoppers have advanced to the Second Round on five occasions, and now Sweet 16 once. Hudson has led the program to all 13 NCAA Tournament appearances.
NCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 13 – First Round
No. 18 WKU vs. Jackson State – Box Score
Thursday, April 14 – Second Round
No. 18 WKU vs. No. 17 Washington State – Box Score
Sunday, April 18 – Sweet 16/Regional Finals
No. 18 WKU vs. [2] No. 2 Kentucky – 9 p.m. CT
TV – ESPN2 | Watch Here
Radio – ESPN Radio 102.7 FM | Listen Here
Livestats – Follow Here
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU and Kentucky are set to meet for the 19th time in program history. The Wildcats own a 14-4 lead in the all-time series.
- The Hilltoppers' 23-0 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 six sets all season winning 69 of 75 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. Washington State was the first team all season the Hilltoppers would need five sets to take down.
- Since joining Conference USA prior to the 2014 campaign, WKU has won at least a share of the regular-season championship in six of seven seasons. From 2014-17, WKU earned four-straight automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament – the first time in program history.
- 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.
- WKU Volleyball has worn "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 was 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. Both squads would go 12-0 and win their respective division.
- WKU Volleyball jumped a spot to the No. 18 ranking in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll (AVCA) – the Tops' best ranking since the program's best mark at No. 16 in 2013.
- WKU is 6-12 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. All 13 appearances have come under Travis Hudson.
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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.
