The Hilltoppers (8-3 overall) finished the day hitting .308 with freshman right side hitter Kaira Knox leading with 33 kills. Against the Hoosiers (8-1 overall), she finished with 22 kills and was the only one to finish in double digits against the Braves (6-5 overall).
BRADLEY: 3-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-16
A balanced Hilltopper offense set the tone for the first frame with four of WKU's six hitters gathering at least three kills. Knox went a perfect 4-for-4 while sophomore middle hitter Faith Young finished with a .750 clip [3-0-4]. Young also collected two service aces, and sophomore libero Tayler Baron contributed a third. The floor defense also stepped up big time, with WKU's back row gathering 15 digs to Bradley's nine. Despite being no more than three points apart for the majority of the set, the Hilltoppers went on an 8-1 run to win the first, 25-16. WKU also finished with a match-best hitting percentage of .419 [16-3-31] while holding Bradley to a .182 [12-6-33].
Set 2: 28-26
The Braves battled back in the second set, improving from a .182 hitting percentage to .244, but WKU was right there with them. The Hilltoppers' hitters racked up another 17 kills while putting pressure at the service line to collect another service ace. Despite Bradley earning more kills than WKU, their attacking errors and lack of service aces proved to be the difference. At the net, WKU also added another three team blocks to bring the total through two sets to six.
Set 3: 25-20
The third and final set was all about the defense, as WKU's blockers erupted for five total blocks. Young was responsible for three block assists, while sophomore pin hitter Alivia Skidmore and junior middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele had two each. The Hilltoppers' offense was also more efficient than the Braves', hitting at.364 to Bradley's .212 and only committing two attacking errors to Bradley's eight. Young tacked on another service ace to bring her match total to three, tying her career high.
(RV) INDIANA: 3-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: 25-23
Knox absolutely exploded against Indiana, starting with a total of nine kills in the first set. Along with Knox's contribution was a range of scoring opportunities, with points coming from service aces, blocks, and Indiana attacking errors. Young, Knox, and senior defensive specialist Abby Schaefer all pitched in with a service ace each. Van De Wiele and senior setter Callie Bauer were responsible for the lone block of the frame.
Set 2: 25-20
WKU continued to dominate on offense, with 15 kills to Indiana's 11. Knox paced the Hilltoppers with another eight kills at an astonishing .583 hitting percentage. She also contributed at the service line with a service ace and the lone solo block of the frame. Despite being down 17-13, WKU went on a 5-0 run to go up 18-17. After both squads tied the score five more times, WKU found itself down, 22-21. They then went on a small, 3-0 run to separate themselves from Indiana, 24-22. With set point on the line, Knox came through with her eighth kill to take the set for WKU.
Set 3: 28-26
With their second sweep of the day only one set away, WKU erupted for a match-high 20 kills and a .350 clip. Van De Wiele went a perfect 7-for-7 in kills, with both Young and Knox following up with five kills each. Bauer was responsible for the lone service ace of the set, while junior outside hitter Kendall Meller was responsible for the only solo block. WKU's floor defense also came through with 13 digs to the Hoosier's 11 with two teams tying in team blocks.
NOTABLES
- Before Friday night, Indiana was ranked #1 in hitting percentage (.346). WKU held the Hoosiers to a .233 hitting percentage.
- Friday night's attendance of 2,175 is the 10th-largest attendance in Hilltopper Volleyball history.
- Kaira Knox's 22 kills are the sixth-most kills by a freshman in a single match.
- Knox's 22 kills are also the most since Nov. 1, 2002, when Jessie Wagner had 25 against FIU.
- The eight service aces against Indiana are the most so far this season.
- WKU finished with 41 digs in both matches.
- The win over Indiana marks the second win over a team that was either ranked (#25 Dayton) or receiving votes (Indiana).
UP NEXT
WKU will finish out the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic with a match against Austin Peay on Saturday. First serve is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT.
