BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Volleyball hosts a brand-new opponent on Tuesday, with Vanderbilt coming to E. A. Diddle Arena in a midweek match up. 2025 marks the very first season for the Commodores after announcing the addition of the program in 2022.
AT THE MATCH
- WKU Match Tickets
- Red Out
- Big Red's Rascals Night
- $4 admission for parents of BRR members!
- Trading Card Giveaway: Abby Schaefer
GAME INFO
ABOUT THE TOPS
- WKU is coming off a weekend that saw them go a perfect 3-0, needing only nine sets to win all three matches.
- The Hilltoppers more than doubled their opponents' offensive production, hitting a .309 clip to their opponents' .127.
- Alivia Skidmore led the offensive charge with 32 kills across nine sets, averaging 3.56 kills per set and a hitting percentage of .348 [32-9-66]. Skidmore was also named the Buccaneer Classic tournament MVP.
- Callie Bauer earned her first CUSA Setter of the Week honors after producing 105 assists, 10 kills, five blocks, and two service aces.
- Joining her in CUSA weekly awards was Kaira Knox who was named Freshman of the Week for the second time this season. Knox averaged 10 kills per match and finished the weekend swinging .333 [30-9-63].
- Last but certainly not least was Faith Young who was named Defensive Player of the Week after a weekend that saw her record 11 blocks. Young also produced 29 kills at a .389 clip and contributed at the service line with two service aces.
QUOTABLE
"They're so talented. I hear a lot of people talking about the fact that they're a new program. But honestly, if you look at college athletics right now, in a lot of ways, a lot of Power 4 programs are new programs year-to-year. There's so much turnover in rosters and things of that nature. There's no question that there are areas they're developing still. But there's also no question that they have a high talent level. Great coaching staff, Anders [Nelson] is a good friend and was the associate head coach at Kentucky. We played them many times in the NCAA Tournament so they're a program on the rise without question. Their record to this point isn't stellar but their schedule has been incredible. There are very few teams that would've navigated a schedule with a record that looked any different including Western Kentucky. They're eye-poppingly talented. They're young in a lot of ways and they're trying to figure themselves out just as we are and so I don't think anything's off the table tomorrow. If Western Kentucky wins it in three you wouldn't be shocked, if Vanderbilt wins it in three you wouldn't be shocked.
Travis Hudson Press Conference
SERIES INFORMATION
- Vanderbilt
- WKU has never played Vanderbilt. Tuesday's meeting will be the first between the two programs.
SCOUTING
- Commodores (2-5 overall)
- Vanderbilt was picked to finish 12th in the SEC in their inaugural season.
- Kamryn Chaney, a transfer from Princeton, currently leads Vanderbilt with 112 kills on the season, averaging 3.86 kills per set. A six-rotation player, Chaney also has a team-high 12 service aces on the season. At the net, she's responsible for 12 total blocks.
- At the tape, Jacquelyn Moore leads the Commodores' air defense with 22 blocks through 29 sets played. Leading in solo blocks is Reese Animashaun and Kayla Dunlap with three each. Moore also has 79 kills and .344 clip.
- Anchoring the back row is Hailee Mack with 125 digs. She also has two service aces. Leading the Commodores' offense is Isabella Bareford with 278 assists.
- Vanderbilt was picked to finish 12th in the SEC in their inaugural season.
