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Hitter Lauren Matthews led the offensive push for the Red and White. Posting a .333 average and collecting 15 kills inside the gym. Senior Avri Davis saw action in every set of the match up for the first time this season, hitting a season-high seven kills on a .235 clip.
In reception, out-digging her career-high from Friday, Libero Abby Schaefer hit 16 digs on the afternoon, while outside hitter Katie Howard dug nine and middle hitter Katie Isenbarger went in for three blocks on defense.
WKU 3, UTEP 1- 25-15, 25-18, 20-25, 25-16
SET 1
After the first serve by Katie Isenbarger, UTEP called first with a kill on the right side. Lauren Matthews answered back with a point into the left corner to put the Tops on the board and a tie match to start. An Ashley Hood ace kept the ball rolling, until the Miners claimed two straight. Back-to-back Katie Howard aces were featured in the BLANK-0 run for WKU and led UTEP to take their first timeout of the set. Setter Callie Bauer sneak attacked on the set over, claiming two back-to-back kills. Each team taking their own rallies, the Hilltoppers notched the 20-point mark in a 3-0 featuring another Hood ace and a cross-court kill off the hand of Lauren Matthews. Outside hitter Avri Davis now subbed in, the senior recorded three more kills on the afternoon near the final point, as Matthews slammed one down to wrap up the frame.
SET 2
A Miner service error opened the middle portion of the Sunday match up inside Memorial Gym. An incredibly tight set that either team strayed over three points from each other, Katie Howard's fourth service ace of the match marked the 4-2 Hilltopper lead in the set. A 4-0 Miner run was cut short by a slammed ball down the left side off of Paige Briggs, until the two rallied back and forth until a 3-0 Tops lead from a Callie Bauer ace. The two traded, until a power push of three straight with kills from Matthews, Briggs, and a block from Isenbarger and Briggs finalized the second set.
SET 3
Off to a rough start in the third set, the Miners ran three straight points, until a service error cut it short. The two battled on the board, UTEP holding a near four-point edge until the Miners blew through in an 8-1 run holding the largest gap at 20-12. The Hilltoppers answered with three more of their own, including a kill from Paige Briggs and a Callie Bauer service ace. UTEP dove in towards 25, gaining three more points on the board until WKU took a 3-0. The two Matthews kills and Hood ace weren't enough, as the Miners ended it with a kill from Torrance Lovesee and headed to set four.
SET 4
Firing back in defense of the third frame, WKU went on a 7-1 run near the beginning of the frame to reach a 10-3 lead over the host. The Miners edged on with three more, before WKU blasted out a 5-1 run featuring two service aces and a kill from outside hitter Avri Davis. Back on the front line, another Hilltopper ace and kills from Davis and Matthews secured a 19-9 lead over UTEP, not before the host nulled back on a 4-1 drive with three kills. Powering through in the 20-point range, WKU sealed the match with a kill on the right side from Kenadee Coyle, and two back-to-back swings over the net from Matthews.
UP NEXT
Heading east, the Hilltoppers travel to Charlotte to take on the 49ers Friday, October 21. First serve is set for 5 p.m. CT, with streaming available for viewership on ESPN+.
POST-MATCH NOTES
- WKU used the lineup of Paige Briggs, Katie Howard, Lauren Matthews, Katie Isenbarger, Kenadee Coyle, Callie Bauer, and Abby Schaefer. This is the 20th time this season Coach Hudson has used this combination.
- In the series, WKU remains undefeated to the Miners, going 12-0 all-time.
- Leading the offensive attack, Lauren Matthews tallied 15 kills off of 30 attempts for a .333 hitting clip for 15.5 points on the day. Senior Avri Davis recorded seven kills and 7.5 points on the afternoon – a season-high for the Tennessee native.
- Outside hitter Katie Howard led the Hilltoppers on the service line with seven, marking a career high as the team recorded a season high of 17 during the match.
- Bouncing off of her career-high set at North Texas on Friday, libero Abby Schaefer notched 16 digs in reception.
- The Hilltoppers now stand at 19-2 and undefeated in C-USA play (7-0).
- Head coach Travis Hudson is now 712-220 across his career on the Hill.
- WKU Volleyball is now up to an all-time program record of 990-494.
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.
