Freshman rightside hitter Kaira Knox exploded for 21 kills and a healthy .250 (21-9-48) hitting percentage while junior middle hitter Gabby Weihe led the defense with 12 blocks. Knox was named WKU Invitational Tournament MVP while sophomore defensive specialist Tayler Baron joins her as well.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set One: 25-11
The Hilltoppers (2-1 overall) erupted offensively, recording 17 total kills on a blistering .615 (17-1-26) hitting percentage. Knox totaled seven kills while Weihe put up four blocks. At the service line, senior setter Callie Bauer recorded the lone service ace. The team total of four blocks combined with the Bulldogs' meager .062 hitting percentage only allowed Drake 11 points in the frame.
Set Two: 24-26
The Bulldogs stormed to an 8-3 lead in the second set as the Hilltoppers then answered with a 8-1 run of their own to go up 14-12. Hitting .237 (15-6-38) wasn't enough, however, as the Bulldogs capitalized on receiving errors and those six attacking errors by WKU to eventually take the second.
Set Three: 25-18
Not going down without a fight, WKU posted its match-best hitting percentage of .286 and collected 14 kills en route to the win. Led by Knox with five kills and Skidmore with four, the HIlltoppers tacked on three more team blocks to bring their total to seven, including junior outside hitter Kendall Meller's first solo block of the match. After a stalemate at 15-15, a Knox kill gave WKU the next point, and the lead, which the Hilltoppers did not give back the remainder of the set.
Set Four: 21-25
The Hilltoppers were on their heels in the fourth set, coming within as few as one but never being able to take the lead. The frame saw only nine kills for WKU but Skidmore and sophomore middle hitter Faith Young tacked on three solo blocks in addition to block assists for Knox and Weihe.
Set Five: 10-15
Playing in their first fifth set of the 2025 season, both squads traded blows through the first 10 points of the set. A 7-1 run from the Bulldogs put them up by as many as six as WKU was unable to overcome the deficit. The Hilltoppers were able to add one more team block to bring their total to 12 on the day.
NOTABLES
- Kaira Knox finished the weekend with 46 kills while Gabby Weihe finished with 12 blocks.
- Gabby Weihe's eight blocks against Drake is a career-high for the junior.
- Tayler Baron led the back row on Saturday with a team-high 16 digs, Abby Schaefer was right behind her with 14.
WKU Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kaira Knox (MVP) - WKU
Tayler Baron - WKU
Leyna Nguyen - Loyola-Chicago
Macy Daufeldt - Drake
Katie Sowko - Wright State
Mya Ayro - Wright State
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers head to Milwaukee, Wis. next weekend to play at Marquette. WKU will take on familiar foes in Marquette and #24 Dayton while taking on Buffalo for the first time since 1996.
