The Hilltoppers (24-5 overall, 15-1 CUSA) posted a strong .345 hitting percentage and eight blocks to the Flames' (20-9 overall, 8-8 CUSA) six. Outside hitter Alivia Skidmore led with 14 kills and middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele led at the net with five blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-13
WKU cruised to a first set win behind a fiery offense that swung for .538 and a total of 17 kills. Opposite hitter Kaira Knox, middle hitter Faith Young, and outside hitter Alivia Skidmore all racked up four each. Setter Callie Bauer also grabbed three kills of her own. The Tops were untouchable in serve receive, posting a perfect reception percentage, led by defensive specialist Abby Schaefer with seven serve receptions. On the back row, the Hilltoppers hardly let a ball touch a floor picking up 10 digs. Tayler Baron and Schaefer led the Tops with three digs each.
Set 2: 26-24
Liberty pushed WKU to extra points in the second frame, but WKU battled back and finished the set with a service ace from defensive specialist Camila Adams. Hitting .256 in the second set, Skidmore led with five kills while Knox and Young tied with four each. The Hilltoppers also out blocked the Flames in the second set, 5-2, led by Van De Wiele with three. Liberty improved from a .115 hitting percentage to a .196 in the second set, but the Hilltoppers were able to outlast the Flames. On the back row, WKU did better than the first set, improving from 10 digs to 25.
Set 3: 25-20
Jumping out to an early 7-3 lead in the third, WKU sealed the win behind a .317 hitting percentage. Both Skidmore and Knox recorded five kills each as Van De Wiele posted four. Despite going the whole set without a block, WKU's floor defense held strong with another 25 digs highlighted by defensive specialist Callahan Wiegandt's seven. Wiegandt wasn't the only one on the back row with at least five digs as Baron posted five and defensive specialist Kennedy Cherry posted six. Baron and Kennedy both recorded a service ace to bring WKU's match total to five.
NOTABLES
- With the win, WKU Volleyball claims at least a share of the CUSA regular season championship title.
- Ten block assists are the most for the Hilltoppers since their match at LA Tech on Oct. 10.
- Callahan Wiegandt posted a season-high 10 digs.
- Faith Young's .611 hitting percentage matches her season high against UTEP on Oct. 25.
- Three players finished with double-digit digs, Callahan Wiegandt (10), Tayler Baron (14), and Kennedy Cherry (10).
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers will head to Miami next week to participate in the Conference USA Tournament Championship, Nov. 20-23. WKU will learn who their first match will be against later today.
