BOWLING GREEN, KY. -- WKU volleyball suffered a loss against the University of Illinois on Saturday, falling 1-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-27
Senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox led the Hilltoppers (4-6 overall) in kills with seven against the Illini (6-1 overall), hitting almost .400 (.368). Sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele and senior rightside Kenadee Coyle tied for the most blocks with three. Four of WKU's first six points came off blocks, all of which were back-to-back efforts.
Set 2: 25-19
WKU's performance in the second set was highlighted by four service aces. Redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer was responsible for three of them while sophomore middle hitter Gabby Weihe claimed the fourth, her 16th on the season. Cox and Bauer were responsible for six of WKU's nine total kills of the set with three a piece.
Set 3: 13-25
Held to their fewest points of the match, but four different Hilltoppers were responsible for the five kills in set three, led by Van De Wiele with two. Cox joined both Weihe and Bauer in service aces, adding one of her own.
Set 4: 19-25
The Hilltoppers started to come back in the fourth set, grabbing n11 kills in the set, led by Cox with three. At the net, Coyle led in blocks with three, finishing the match with six. Both teams went on 4-0 runs towards the end of the set, but Illinois came away with the win.
NOTABLES
- Kaylee Cox earned her sixth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 13 digs
- Callie Bauer joined Cox in double-doubles with her third of the season
- Izzy Van De Wiele led in blocks with seven
"It's another frustrating day. I'm really proud of our kids, we're fighting hard," said Head Coach Travis Hudson. "This was a weird match, we just didn't play well enough offensively. I thought we did some good things defensively early. Two sets they're hitting a .140 and we think we're in good shape and then they come out and blister us in the last two sets. It's a tale of two sets. Outside of Kaylee Cox we couldn't generate anything offensively. It's just been that kind of week. First set we played really clea, really well and then a kid gets hot on a service line and steals the first set from us and they're up 2-0 in our own building. We just have to stick together and understand that there are better days ahead."
NEXT UP
WKU finishes its non-conference slate with the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic featuring Arkansas State, Eastern Illinois, and Austin Peay. First serve against Arkansas State is set for 11 a.m.
