MIAMI, FL. --WKU Volleyball rallied back on Sunday after falling in set one and battled back through five sets to finish the sweep of FIU.
Crucial blocking in the second set--led by senior rightside hitter Kenadee Coyle who led with seven--helped the Hilltoppers (15-6 overall, 8-0 CUSA) to their fourth-straight sweep of a Conference USA opponent, this time being the FIU Panthers (2-17 overall, 0-6 CUSA). Alongside Coyle's crucial blocking was a .298 [62-17-151] hitting clip led by senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox with 17 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-14
The Hilltoppers hit only for .176 [9-3-34] in set one, with the Panthers taking the first of the match. Both Cox and freshman pin hitter Alivia Skidmore swung for three kills each. Both redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer and Coyle helped at the back row with three digs a piece.
Set 2: 25-19
WKU's defense dominated in the second set thanks to four huge blocks from Coyle. Both sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele and Cox also each registered a solo block. The biggest difference between the two sets, however, was both WKU's blocks—from none to six—and holding FIU's offense to a non-existent .000 hitting percentage after hitting for .433 in set one. Three different Hilltopper hitters registered three kills (Cox, Young, and Coyle) while both graduate student defensive specialist Madyson Chitty and Cox nabbed a service ace.
Set 3: 25-23
A staggering .526 [16-0-28] hitting clip for the Hilltoppers led the way to the win in set three. Cox came alive offensively with six kills on 10 attempts for a .600 hitting percentage. Alongside Cox's offensive performance was breakout service line activity from junior libero Callahan Wiegandt with two service aces. Coyle and Young both added a block to their totals.
Set 4: 25-21
In the fourth, Skidmore stepped up at the net, leading the offensive charge with four kills and the lone solo block of the set. Senior outside hitter Katie Howard led the back row with three digs while three different Hilltoppers registered one block, including Skidmore's solo block.
Set 5: 15-12
Three different Hilltoppers recorded two kills in the fifth set while blocking stole the show with three total team blocks. Van De Wiele led the way with two while Coyle and Bauer captured one each. Cox rounded out the blocking efforts with a solo block. The WKU defense was also responsible for keeping the Panthers to a -.050 [6-7-20] hitting percentage.
NOTABLES
- Sunday's win marks the 81st-straight CUSA win.
- Three different Hilltoppers recorded double-digit kills. Cox posted 17, Skidmore had 12, while Coyle finished out the group with 10.
- WKU's 62 total kills is the second-most on the season
- Kaylee Cox led with 17 kills while Kenadee Coyle led with seven blocks
NEXT UP
WKU returns to E. A. Diddle Arena to take on Louisiana Tech. First serve is set for Friday, October 18 at 6 p.m.
