Jax State Series // Oct. 7-8 // Diddle Arena  |
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| Match 19: Jax State (4-10) | Sat., Oct. 7 | 12 p.m. CT | ESPN+ | Varsity Radio Network // Listen Live | Livestats | ||||
| Match 20: Jax State | Sun., Oct. 8 | 12 p.m. CT | ESPN+ | Varsity Radio Network // Listen Live | Livestats | ||||
| Tickets | Flexible Ticket Package | Single game tickets are also available at entrance 2 ($6 adults, $3 youth) | ||||
| Promotions | Spirit of the Master Weekend + 4 for 4 Promotion Saturday: Mental Health Awareness Match, Green Button giveaway Sunday: Free admission with church bulletin Volleyball 4 for 4: If fans attend both matches in a weekend series, they will be entered into a drawing to win a suite for a Hilltopper Basketball game during the 2023 season. Ticket stubs will be collected at the marketing table and a winner will be drawn at the end of the season. |
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| Game Notes | WKU | Jax State | ||||
| Series History | N/A, the two opponents have never met. | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUVolleyball  | @WKU Volleyball   | Facebook   | YouTube   | Tik Tok |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Still undefeated in CUSA action and on a nine-match win streak, the WKU Hilltoppers are set to host new Conference USA member Jacksonville State, Saturday and Sunday in Diddle Arena. Both noon CT first serve matches, the Tops and Gamecocks have never met in both their long-standing program histories.
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Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+ with Scott Thompson on play-by-play, four-time All-American Jessica Lucas on color Saturday and Ken Marshall on color Sunday. As is the case for every Hilltopper match this season, all the action will also be available on the Varsity Radio Network with Reily Chestnut on the audio call.
After a bye weekend over the last weekend of September, the Tops kicked off their October slate on the road to new CUSA opponent, Liberty, which resulted in two more victories. Tuesday evening, outside hitters Paige Briggs and Kaylee Cox combined for 31 kills and no errors to sweep the Flames. A tougher challenge the next day, Wednesday afternoon WKU and Liberty went to five-sets as the Red and White snuck in 15-13 in set-five after a heavy day on defense with 17 total blocks.
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With a new head coach at the helm, the Gamecocks are coming out of the ASUN last season with a 24-6 record and a first-round loss in the ASUN Conference Tournament. The 2023 Jax State squad boasts a 2-2 record (4-10 overall) in conference play with wins over Sam Houston. Standing at 0-5 on the road, the Gamecocks are hitting .200 and averaging 1.8 blocks a set.
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PARKING
Fans can park in Parking Structure 2 (located between the football stadium and E.A. Diddle Arena) and enter through the Gate 2 entrance.Â
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TICKETSÂ Â
Single match tickets are available at only entrance 2 on game day. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for kids. Save 20% on single-match tickets when you buy online in advance.
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TOP STORYLINES
- WKU has been predicted to win the conference title in the Conference USA Preseason Poll voted by the league's coaches. Callie Bauer, Paige Briggs, Kaylee Cox, and Kenadee Coyle, were all selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Briggs was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year. After a third place finish in 2022, UTEP was predicted to finish second.
- The Tops are a perfect 4-0 in CUSA action after a two-match series wins over UTEP and Liberty.
- Paige Briggs broke the program record of kills in a single match, with her 35-kill outing against Western Michigan. The fifth-year outside hitter is second the nation of most kills in a single four-set match this season.
- A rare statistic to see, both of WKU's starting outside hitters, Paige Briggs and Kaylee Cox, combined for 31 kills and no errors in Tuesday evening's sweep over Liberty.
- 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.
- Picking up a 14-4 record so far on the year, the Hilltoppers picked up their first win in 2023 with a marquee 3-1 victory over No. 12 Marquette in Dayton, Ohio. It was the first Top-15 win for the Red and White since 2015. WKU is standing at 19 in the latest NCAA RPI report.
- A strong offense to head coach Travis Hudson's Hilltoppers, the Tops lead Conference USA in total kills (871) and kills/set (13.61).
- Despite being five hours away geographically, the Hilltoppers and Gamecocks have never played each other before this weekend, now as conference opponents.
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.
