Hilltoppers Travel to Springfield to Take on Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- With two conference wins under their belts, WKU Volleyball heads to Springfield, Mo., to take on a new Conference USA opponent, the Missouri State Bears.

GAME INFO

Vs. Missouri State: Oct. 3
- 6 p.m. CT
Vs. Missouri State: Oct. 4
- 1 p.m. CT
Location: Hammons Student Center
Watch (Saturday, 10/4)
Friday LiveStats | Saturday LiveStats

ABOUT THE TOPS

The Hilltoppers opened Conference USA in grand fashion, sweeping Jax State 3-0 in both matches to begin 2-0 in conference play.
WKU posted a .209 hitting percentage to the Gamecocks' .087. Alivia Skidmore led the Hilltoppers with 18 kills on a .216 [18-7-51] hitting clip. Both Faith Young and Izzy Van De Wiele joined Skidmore in double-digit kills, finishing with 15 and 13, respectively.
The Tops rank in the top 50 nationally in five different statistical categories: hitting percentage (39th, .262), assists per set (32nd, 12.79), blocks per set (25th, 2.68), kills per set (38th, 13.74), and opponent hitting percentage (33rd, .165).
In CUSA, the Hilltoppers are at the top of the statistical standings in assists, kills, and blocks.
Underclassmen are a large makeup of the Hilltoppers this season, and they're responsible for more than 65% of WKU's kills so far. The top three hitters, Alivia Skidmore, Kaira Knox, and Faith Young are credited with 380 of WKU's 646 kills.
WKU Head Coach Travis Hudson is currently nine wins away from 800 career wins, and his Hilltoppers are eight wins away from a 100-match win streak in conference play.

QUOTABLE
"It's going to be Missouri State's first-ever Conference USA match at home," said WKU Head Coach Travis Hudson. "I'm sure they're going to have a great environment. Like I said, I know they're well-coached. To tell you the truth, this week in practice is almost like the mode I'm in during the first couple weeks of the season. First couple weeks of the season you hear me say, 'I'm not really that worried about who we're playing, I'm worried about becoming a better version of ourselves.' That's what this week will be about. Just to be a cleaner version of ourselves and hope that that's enough until we can get whole."

Travis Hudson Press Conference

SERIES INFORMATION

Missouri State
- WKU leads the all-time series against the Bears, 2-1. The Hilltoppers have won in Springfield, Mo., and at a neutral match in Charleston, S.C.
- This weekend's matches mark the first time Missouri State will face WKU in conference play. MSU has spent the last 33 seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference.

SCOUTING

Bears (5-8 overall)
- In the 2025 CUSA Preseason Coaches' Poll, Missouri State was picked to finish ninth.
- The Bears are currently 5-8 overall with wins over Lindenwood, UTSA, and a two-match sweep of Purdue-Fort Wayne.
- Rilynn Finley leads the Bears offensively with 125 kills and a .211 hitting percentage. At the net, she has 17 total blocks.
- Peyton McKee is second for the Bears on offense with 121 kills on a .268 hitting clip. McKee also has 14 total blocks so far this season.
- At the tape, Lizanyela Lopez leads with 58 total blocks, including 11 solo stuffs.
- Missouri State isn't too far behind the Tops in defense. The Bears are currently ranked third in CUSA in total blocks with 126.5 and are tied for second in blocks per set with 2.53.
- The Bears' floor defense is also the best in the conference, currently ranked first in digs with 764 and an average of 15.28 digs per set. Their digs per set ranks them 51st in the country.
- In 2024, Missouri State finished the 2024 season ranked No. 237 in RPI.

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Players Mentioned

Kaira Knox

Alivia Skidmore

Izzy Van De Wiele

Faith Young