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EL PASO, Tex. --WKU Volleyball grinded out a four-set match against The University of Texas at El Paso on Friday—with the fourth set requiring 30 points to win—and came out on top, 3-1, to extend their conference win streak to 85.
Senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox racked up 16 kills for the Hilltoppers (18-6 overall, 11-0 CUSA) while sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele posted a team-best .429 [15-3-28] hitting clip to lead WKU over the Miners (20-3 overall, 10-1 CUSA).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-21
WKU and UTEP traded blows and finished tied at 13 kills each. The Hilltoppers posted a .241 hitting percentage to the Miners' .219, but the difference maker in the first set was the performance at the service line. WKU finished with one service ace and two service errors, while UTEP finished with no service aces and five service errors.
Set 2: 25-21
The WKU offense lit up as the Hilltoppers improved from a .241 [13-6-29] hitting clip in the first set to a .333 [14-3-30] hitting percentage in the second. Cox led the way in the kills category adding five to her total for a .300 hitting clip through two. The Tops continued to capitalize on UTEP errors as the Miners committed seven hitting errors and three service errors.
Set 3: 25-21
The Hilltoppers came up short in set four as UTEP exploded for a .395 [17-2-38] hitting percentage. Cox added another five kills to bring her total to 13 while Van De Wiele collected four to bring her total to 11.
Set 4: 30-28
In the fourth, it was all hands on deck as the Hilltoppers had six different players contribute at least one kill. Van De Wiele and freshman outside hitter Alivia Skidmore tied for the lead with four kills each while Cox and freshman middle hitter Faith Young collected three each. WKU added two total team blocks to bring their total to five while Van De Wiele led defensively with two blocks.
NOTABLES
- Friday's win marks the 85th-straight CUSA win
- Redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer led in digs with 17
- The 30-point fourth set is the second-longest single set of the season, the longest coming against Northern Kentucky on August 30 with 31
NEXT UP
WKU continues its series against UTEP with the final match on Saturday, Oct. 26. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
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