Hilltoppers Sweep MTSU in Opening Match

Friday, October 31

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

6 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

19-5,10-1CUSA

Middle Tennessee

10-13,2-9CUSA

Western Ky.

Middle Tenn.

Photo by: Caty Llamas, WKU Athletics

10/31/2025 9:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- WKU Volleyball earned their 60th all-time win against Middle Tennessee on Friday thanks to a 15-kill performance from rightside hitter Kaira Knox and a team hitting percentage of .316.

Knox posted a career-high .737 hitting percentage for the Hilltoppers (19-5 overall, 10-1 CUSA) while MTSU (10-13 overall, 2-9 CUSA) only managed a .110 hitting clip.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-13
In a set that only took 19 minutes, seven different Hilltoppers posted at least one kill with Knox leading the way with four. Outside hitter Alivia Skidmore posted the only solo block of the set, but middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele and setter Callie Bauer also recorded a block each. At the net, Bauer and Skidmore were responsible for the two service aces in the set. Up by as many as 10, WKU posted its best hitting percentage of the match at .458, with 12 kills and one error on 24 attacks.

Set 2: 25-20
The second set featured a balanced offense from Knox and Skidmore with six and five kills, respectively. Knox, Skidmore, and defensive specialist Abby Schaefer contributed three service aces, and outside hitter Kendall Meller recorded a solo block. In addition to Meller, Van De Wiele and Knox contributed another block to bring the set total to two. The Hilltoppers posted their highest single set kills total with 14 and the three total service aces was also the most across the three sets.

Set 3: 25-19
The final set featured another five kills from Knox to bring her total to 15 while middle hitter Faith Young erupted for four of her own. Four different Hilltoppers made contributions at the net as Knox, Bauer, Young, and Van De Wiele all posted at least one block to finish the set with three team blocks. Bauer and Faith paced the Hilltoppers' blocking efforts with two. Bauer and libero Tayler Baron each contributed a service ace as WKU closed the match on a 3-0 run, holding MTSU to a -.062 hitting mark in the set.

NOTABLES

With tonight's win, Head Coach Travis Hudson now has 799 career victories.
Kaira Knox led the way with 15 kills, while Alivia Skidmore was second with seven.
Callie Bauer's three blocks matched her season high.
Tayler Baron posted yet another match with double-digit digs (14), her fifth straight and 15th overall match this season.