All three matches will be streamed live with Lipscomb taking place on ESPN+ with commentators while the neutral matches will feature just a video stream on YouTube. As is the case for every Hilltopper match this season, all the action will also be available on ESPN 102.7 FM or ESPN1027.com with Brett Williams on the play-by-play call.
SCHEDULE
Friday, September 3 – 6:30 p.m. | No. 15 WKU at Lipscomb | Stats | Watch | WKU Radio
Saturday, September 4 – noon | No. 15 WKU vs. Kansas | Stats | Watch | WKU Radio
Saturday, September 4 – 4:30 p.m. | No. 15 WKU vs. Wake Forest | Stats | Watch | WKU Radio
WKU will open tournament play against Lipscomb on Friday night at 6:30 p.m., marking the Tops' second contest against a 2020 NCAA Tournament team in as many weekends. The sides have faced off 11 times in program history with the Red and White winning the last 7 meetings and 10 of the 11 matches. The most recent meeting came in 2017, when WKU earned a 3-0 sweep in Bowling Green. In last year's abbreviated season, Lipscomb finished 17-3.
WKU matches up against Kansas at noon on Saturday from Allen Arena. These programs have only met twice before and will mark the first meeting since 2003. Kansas posted a 12-10 record last season including a victory over No. 3 Baylor on Sept. 25, 2020.
The Red and White's final match of the weekend comes against Wake Forest at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. This is the third time these programs will meet. Overall, WKU is 2-0 against the Demon Deacons, with the most recent meeting coming back in 2011, with the Hilltoppers winning 3-0.
WKU Volleyball is coming off a 3-0 weekend at the Golden Dome Invitational, only dropping one set in three matches. The Hilltoppers took care of business, beating Oakland on Friday morning, 3-0, sweeping No. 25 Notre Dame on Friday night, and taking down Loyola in four sets to close play on Saturday.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU has been predicted to win the East Division in the Conference USA Preseason Poll voted by the league's coaches. Paige Briggs, Nadia Dieudonne, and Lauren Matthews were all selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. After meeting in last year's tournament championship Rice was predicted to win the West Division again this season.
- WKU opened the season ranked for just the fourth time in program history during the 2021 fall campaign, also marking the first time the team will do so in back-to-back campaigns. The Hilltoppers came in at No. 25 to begin the 2020-21 spring season. In 2013, WKU was ranked in the AVCA Preseason poll for the first time, coming in at No. 21 before owning the 22nd slot prior to the 2016 season.
- WKU ranks No. 15 in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll - the highest ranking in program history and up one spot from the 2021 preseason poll. The Hilltoppers have now been ranked in 10 of the last 11 seasons and received votes for 12-straight campaigns.
- Due to last season being moved to the spring, WKU's 124-day offseason marked the shortest offseason in program history.
- WKU President Dr. Timothy C. Caboni welcomed faculty and staff for a convocation to kick off the 2021-22 school year on August 16 where he would award head coach Travis Hudson the Spirit of WKU Award. The Spirit of WKU Award is presented to an individual representing enthusiasm for WKU, loyalty to the institution and principles of the WKU Experience and its motto "The Spirit Makes the Master." Hudson was inducted into WKU's prestigious Hall of Distinguished Alumni in October 2020 as well.
- WKU Volleyball is more accessible than ever with radio broadcasts for every match. The Tops are 1 of just 10 Division I Volleyball programs that currently have live radio for home and away matches.
- Since joining Conference USA prior to the 2014 campaign, WKU Volleyball is now 15-12 against Power 5 opponents. The Hilltoppers' have claimed their first opportunity against a Power 5 squad this season with last Friday's win at Notre Dame.
- WKU is now 11-19 all-time when facing a top-25 squad including a 10-11 mark since the beginning of the 2012 campaign following its Opening Day win at No. 25 Notre Dame.
- WKU's home opener against Belmont was postponed due to positive COVID-19 cases within the Belmont program. A makeup day has not been determined yet.
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.
