Van De Wiele erupted at the net for the Hilltoppers (22-5 overall, 13-1 CUSA), collecting 13 kills and grabbing a total of seven blocks against the Blue Hens (7-16 overall, 4-10 CUSA). As a team, WKU hit for .337 while holding Delaware to a -.019 hitting percentage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-16
After going down 4-0 to open the set, WKU answered with five unanswered points of their own to take the lead. Delaware tied it, 5-5, but the Hilltoppers added another two points and held the lead for the remainder of the set. Both Van De Wiele and opposite hitter Kaira Knox collected four kills while three other Hilltoppers accounted for the final six. Van De Wiele led at the net with two blocks while Knox and setter Callie Bauer were responsible for the other two. Defensive specialist Abby Schaefer led the back row with six digs, while all together the floor defense registered 15 digs in the frame.
Set 2: 25-12
Delaware was held to a negative hitting percentage in the second frame, -.071 as the Hilltoppers posted their second straight set hitting at least .350. Middle hitter Faith Young led the charge in set two, racking up nine kills and two blocks. Outside hitter Sonja Laaksonen also matched Young's defensive production with two blocks of her own. WKU's floor defense was also a major contributor in only allowing four Blue Hen kills as their efforts improved with 17 digs in the set.
Set 3: 25-12
The final frame of the afternoon was one where WKU took the lead and didn't allow Delaware to come within less than four. The Hilltoppers opened with a match-best 6-0 run capped by a block from Van De Wiele and Knox. Van De Wiele led the Hilltoppers with five kills and four blocks, including one solo effort. While the Blue Hens grabbed four more kills than set two, WKU's defense and Delaware hitting errors contributed to a -.146 hitting percentage. WKU's back row finished the match with 50 digs thanks to an 18-dig performance led by libero Tayler Baron with five.
NOTABLES
- Fifty digs are the most for the Hilltoppers since their match against High Point on Sept. 12 when they posted 52.
- Izzy Van De Wiele was the only Hilltopper to finish in double-digit kills with 13. She also finished with a team-high hitting percentage of .522.
- In her last match at Diddle Arena, Callie Bauer posted her 16th career double-double with 10 digs and 34 assists.
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers will head to Lynchburg, VA for their last regular season matches of the 2025 season on Nov. 14 & 15. First serve is set for Friday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. CT.
