"This wasn't our strongest offensive match up as a team, but you can't go wrong with a kid like Paige Briggs and how hard she worked today", said head coach Travis Hudson.
WKU held the Owls to a.125 hitting clip, fifth-years Lauren Matthews and Katie Isenbarger went for a combined nine blocks. Six individual Hilltoppers collected stuffs at the top of the net, followed by seven total service aces at the line.
Sophomore Katie Howard notched three aces on Albessinio Court, taking the lead for the Red and White and powering out 22 aces in the last six matches.
WKU 3, FLORIDA ATLANTIC 0- 25-18, 25-18, 25-16
SET 1
The Owls got off to the quick start on their home court with a 2-0 lead following a kill and a service ace to the Hilltoppers' back corner. WKU got the upper hand eventually with a 6-0 run to take the lead. The two trade off before a 3-0 run with back-to-back Paige Briggs kills, featured a shot of her ball slicing down the middle of the court between two blockers. Farther into the set, the two rallied before WKU broke out into another 4-0 scoring run including a shot down the middle from Lauren Matthews and two more points for Briggs in the frame. Settling down, the home team bounced off the crowd and went on their own 4-1 run, edging into 20 points. But WKU shut them down on an answered 4-1, ending the frame with a block assist by Matthews and outside hitter Jennifer Rush.
SET 2
A heavy loaded 6-2 scoring run for WKU garnered the Owls to take their first timeout of the frame, before the Hilltoppers exploded with five more and wagering the second- largest gap of the match, at 11-3. Briggs picked up one of 17 kills in the run, while setter Callie Bauer notched her first service ace of the night, and right side hitter Kenadee Coyle went back-to-back in kills on the edge of the Tops net. WKU packed on four more to FAU's one side out point for the largest lead of the match, set at 15-5. Cameron Mosley now in to serve, Florida Atlantic answered back with three straight from their leading hitter, Katelynn Robine. The two sides juggled back-and-forth across the board with points to the last point, until the Red and White emerged with two side out numbers to carry onto the final frame.
SET 3
Sophomore Katie Howard used her .300 hitting clip to her advantage on Friday, opening up the final set with a kill off the assist of Callie Bauer. The two sides split even-keel in the opening points of set three, until WKU erupted into six unanswered points to wager a six-point match. Middle hitter Katie Isenbarger stole the run, featuring back-to-back solo blocks up at the net, before stuffing one down with teammate Paige Briggs for point #12 before the Owls took one of their own. Responding to her strong defense, Isenbarger collected back-to-back kills down the middle in the next run of points for the Hilltoppers, proclaiming her strong arm towards the net. Next 3-0 run at the 18th point mark, expressed the depth of the WKU offense, kills from the entire front line Coyle, Matthews, Howard in the rotation picked up a kill before FAU cut the run short. The two conference opponents went back and forth collecting single points until a kill on the outside from Katie Howard off the assist from Callahan Wiegandt closed the match.
UP NEXT
Staying put in the sunshine state, the Hilltoppers will rematch the Panthers of Florida International University down in Miami on Sunday. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and broadcast on C-USAtv for purchase.
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 25th time this season Coach Hudson has used this combination.
- In the series, WKU is perfect, holding the 30-0 all-time record as FAU is leaving the conference next season.
- Senior Paige Briggs hit her second-career best, .680, against the Owls, accumulating no errors with 17 kills off of 25 attempts.
- Katie Howard led the Hilltoppers in service aces for the fifth time in six matches, picking up three more on the season and bringing her total to 47.
- Leading the Tops on the reception end, libero Abby Schaefer picked up 13 digs, followed by Ashley Hood and Paige Briggs (6).
- Back up setter freshman Callahan Weigandt picked up her first two assists of her young career. Starting setter Callie Bauer collected 40 assists on the night.
- The Hilltoppers now stand at 24-2 and undefeated in C-USA play (12-0).
- Head coach Travis Hudson is now 717-220 across his career on the Hill.
- WKU Volleyball is now up to an all-time program record of 995-494.
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.
