MATCH INFO
- WKU at NM State | Friday, Sept. 25 | 7 PM CT
- Watch | Live Stats | Listen
- WKU at NM State | Saturday, Sept. 26 | 1 PM CT
- Watch | Live Stats | Listen
- Notes: WKU
ABOUT THE TOPS
- The Hilltoppers enter conference play at an even 6-6, sweeping ETSU on Saturday afternoon to round out the non-conference slate.
- Against the Buccaneers, Faith Young logged double digit kills for the fifth time in six matches. Young finished with 12 kills, two digs, and matched a career best in blocks with six.
- Kate Rush set a new career high in assists against Oklahoma in their match on Thursday, finishing with 49.
- Eliza McKnight is continuing to make an impact and tallied a career high 17 kills on 26 attacks for a .654 hitting percentage along with six blocks and an assist against Oklahoma Thursday.
- McKnight is the first WKU Freshman to record 6+ blocks in a match since Izzy Van De Wiele did so during the 2023 season.
- WKU currently has 558 kills, 507 assists, and 98 service aces with a .272 hitting percentage. Kaira Knox has tallied a team best 131 kills for an average of 2.91/set.
- Defensively, the Hilltoppers have totaled 526 digs and 86 total blocks. Tayler Baron is the team leader in digs with 191 (4.24/set). Faith Young leads the blocking effort with 31 total blocks.
- WKU's 98 aces from the service line are No. 10 in the nation. Kate Rush is the team individual leader with 29 to lead CUSA and is No. 8 in all NCAA DI. Rush is 17th in all of NCAA DI in aces/set with 0.64.
- The 434 total assists for Rush is the top mark in CUSA and is top 20 in the nation right at No. 19.
- The Hilltoppers are averaging 2.18 aces/set to lead the league and stand at No. 12 overall.
- Faith Young currently boasts a .417 hitting percentage which leads CUSA and is No. 28 in the nation.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
- New Mexico State enters league play with a 7-6 mark after dropping 2-of-3 last weekend at the Bradley Tournament in Peoria, Ill.
- The Aggies have tallied 691 kills on 1,803 total attempts and post a .228 hitting percentage. The team has totaled 637 assists and 83 service aces.
- Defensively, NM State has notched 696 digs for an average of 12.9/set and has stuffed 94 total blocks.
- Jaelynn Kohli leads the team in kills with 139 for an average of 2.73 kills/set. Katrina Catalan has assisted in 277 successful attacks for an average of 5.13/set. Paige Nelson is the third different Aggie to lead an offensive category with 18 total aces.
- Defensively, Makayla Martinez is anchoring the back line with 189 total digs and an average of 3.50/set. Mia Fox has totaled 39 blocks thus far in 2026 for an average of 0.75/set.
- NM State's 691 total kills lead the league and is sixth in the nation. The 637 total team assists also lead CUSA and is the No. 7 mark in all of NCAA DI this season.
SERIES HISTORY
- Friday will mark the 17th all-time meeting between the Hilltoppers and Aggies.
- WKU currently holds a 10-6 advantage in the series, winners of the last seven.
- Friday will mark WKU's first trip to Las Cruces since the 2023 season, the Aggies' first year in CUSA.
- The Hilltoppers played two matches in the 2023 regular season there and matched up against the host Aggies in the CUSA Tournament. WKU won all three in straight sets.
FOLLOW THE TOPS
For complete information on WKU Volleyball, follow the team on X @WKUVolleyball and head coach Travis Hudson @TravisHudsonWKU. The team is also on Instagram and Facebook.
