LEXINGTON, Ky. – A trio of Hilltoppers earned recognition for their play this season as Callie Bauer, Kaira Knox, and Alivia Skidmore earned AVCA South All-Region honors, the organization announced Tuesday morning. Bauer was named AVCA South All-Region First Team and Knox and Skidmore both earned Honorable Mention.
Bauer was tabbed AVCA South All-Region First Team for the second consecutive season after leading the Hilltoppers to a 27-6 overall record and the program's 18th appearance in the NCAA tournament.
The 2025 Alyssa Cavanaugh CUSA Player of the Year was one of the top setters in the country, finishing the regular season ranked 22nd nationally and first in the conference in assists per set at 10.42. Her 1,073 total assists during that time ranked 48th nationally and second in CUSA. Bauer also helped the Hilltoppers to the third-best hitting percentage in the country (.312), fifth-best assists per set (13.63), and sixth-best kills per set rate (14.57) in the country.
Playing in 106 of the 108 total sets this season, Bauer finished her senior year with a total of 88 kills, 1,109 assists, 25 service aces, 225 digs, and 32 blocks. The CUSA First Team All-Conference selection also posted a total of five double doubles on the season, totaling 17 in her career. Bauer was also named CUSA tournament MVP.
Knox had a breakout freshman season with the Hilltoppers, earning CUSA Freshman of the Year honors as well as being named to the CUSA All-Freshman team. Finishing the season with a .327 hitting percentage, she also remained in the top 10 in CUSA in kills per set despite missing at least 18 sets of play due to injury.
In the three-set sweep of Indiana on Sept. 19, Knox logged a season-high 22 kills on a .444 hitting clip. Her 22 kills were the most by a freshman in a single match since Nov. 1, 2022. Knox also posted the highest hitting percentage of any Hilltopper this season, logging a .737 against Middle Tennessee on Oct. 31. The opposite hitter also finished in double-digit kills in 17 of the 27 matches she appeared in.
The Tennessee native is also one of two six rotation players for the Tops and has made contributions to every statistical category. At the end of the 2025 season, Knox recorded 293 kills, 13 assists, 12 service aces, 132 digs, and 55 blocks.
Rounding out the group is Skidmore who spent the season as WKU's primary offensive weapon. Responsible for almost 25% of the Tops' total kills, Skidmore finished with 369 kills and a .294 hitting percentage. The pin hitter propelled the Hilltoppers to their 10th CUSA tournament championship with 25 kills in the championship finals against FIU, the most of any WKU player this season. Her performance against FIU also earned her a spot on the All-Tournament team.
Skidmore also contributed on multiple fronts for the Hilltoppers, recording one assist, nine service aces, a perfect serve-reception percentage, 77 digs, and 42 blocks. She was also the highest points scorer for the Tops, finishing the season with 404.5.
The trio marks the fifth time in program history that WKU Volleyball has had three honorees on the AVCA South All-Region list and brings the program's total to 57 selections. All 57 honorees have been selected during head coach Travis Hudson's tenure.
With the All-Region First Team honor, Bauer will be eligible for the All-American ballot. Those teams will be announced on Dec. 17.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- Big Red
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
