EAST LANSING, MI. – After dropping the first set, WKU volleyball won three straight sets to close out their time at the Kathy Deboer Invitational with a win.
Senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox led the charge for the Hilltoppers (4-2 overall) with 15 kills, two service aces, and a total of 18.5 points. On the other side of the ball, sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele led defensively against the Ramblers (2-3 overall) with two solo blocks and eight block assists for 10 total blocks on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 15-25
An unusually slow start for the Hilltoppers led to a .038 hitting percentage for the set, but freshman outside hitter Alivia Skidmore was able to put together three kills. Sophomore middle hitter Gabby Weihe and Cox grabbed the lone block in the first set.
Set 2: 25-16
WKU almost literally flipped the score on the Ramblers, exploding for 21 total kills in set two and a team hitting percentage of .259. Cox led at the net with six kills while Skidmore backed up Cox's performance with four kills of her own. At the service line, a lethal Weihe put together three service aces for the Tops.
Set 3: 26-24
Loyola-Chicago was not going down without a fight, however, pushing the Hilltoppers to 26 points in set three. Skidmore and Cox once again led offensively, combining for seven of WKU's 14 total kills. Van De Wiele exploded at the net, accumulating five blocks, the most of any Hilltopper in the third.
Set 4: 25-9
The Hilltoppers shut the door on the Ramblers in the fourth, preventing LUC from even reaching double-digits in scoring. Loyola-Chicago was held to a -.129 team hitting percentage, the second time in six matches the Hilltoppers have held an opponent to a single-set negative hitting percentage.
NOTABLES
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Izzy Van De Wiele led in hitting percentage at .368
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Kaylee Cox led in digs with 13
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WKU finished with six service aces
NEXT UP
The Hilltoppers return home to open their home slate against Tennessee on Tuesday, September 10. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
