Hilltoppers Fall to UTEP on Friday

Friday, October 24

Bowling Green, Ky.

6 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

17-5,8-1CUSA

University of Texas at El Paso

19-2,9-0CUSA

UTEP

Western Ky.

Defensive specialist Kaira Knox (5) | Photo by Nico Pascarella

Photo by: Nico Pascarella/WKU Athletics

10/24/2025 8:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- WKU Volleyball was handed its first conference loss in almost seven years on Friday as UTEP swept the match at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Despite an aggressive offense, the Miners (19-2 overall, 9-0 CUSA) outpaced the Hilltoppers (17-5 overall, 8-1 CUSA) with a .378 hitting percentage to WKU's .282.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Set 1: 25-23
The first set of the night simply came down to a UTEP service ace and one more Miner kill as UTEP and WKU posted hitting percentages above .400. Freshman rightside hitter Kaira Knox led the Hilltoppers with nine kills in set one and posted a team-high .57 hitting percentage. At the net, WKU secured the only block between the two teams thanks to efforts from setter Callie Bauer and middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele.

Set 2: 25-20
Momentum swings were the name of the game in set two as the two squads posted almost identical totals across the major statistical categories. WKU recorded more kills than UTEP, 13-12, while the Miners outblocked the Hilltoppers, 5-4. UTEP's sideout percentage (61%) outpaced WKU's (50%), giving the Miners the edge. The Hilltoppers began utilizing the attack from the left side of the net as outside hitter Alivia Skidmore led the way with three kills. At the net, both middle hitter Faith Young and outside hitter Kendall Meller recorded three blocks while Van De Wiele and Knox each posted one.

Set 3: 25-15
The middle hitters, Young and Van De Wiele, came alive in the third set and combined for 10 kills, but UTEP's efficient hitting overcame the Hilltoppers. Young posted a team-high .625 hitting percentage with six kills while Van De Wiele recorded a .800 with four kills. On net defense, Meller and Van De Wiele were responsible for the block.

NOTABLES

Both Kaira Knox and Alivia Skidmore finished in double-digit kills. Knox finished with 11 kills and Skidmore finished with 10.
Kendall Meller led the defense in blocks with four, which is a season high for the junior.
Tayler Baron recorded her third-straight match with double-digit digs (11). Friday's match marks the 14th match of the season with double-digit digs.