WKU Volleyball: Lady Tops Advance to Fourth Straight Conference USA Championship
WKU Volleyball (28–3) advanced to Sunday’s Conference USA Championship game with a sweep over Southern Mississippi (25–21, 25–18, 25–20).
WKU Volleyball (28–3) advanced to Sunday’s Conference USA Championship game with a sweep over Southern Mississippi (25–21, 25–18, 25–20).
After a slow start in set one, the Lady Toppers were able to battle back behind the two-time Conference USA Player of the Year, Alyssa Cavanaugh. The WKU senior led the way with six kills in the frame. The Lady Toppers were also able to hold Southern Miss to a miniscule .111 hitting percentage.
The Lady Toppers continued their roll into the second set, jumping out to an early 11–6 lead. This set was again dominated by Cavanaugh who tallied seven more kills.
The third set was back and forth, with neither team taking a lead of more than two until USM went on a 4–0 run to take a 13–10 lead, forcing WKU head coach Travis Hudson to take a timeout.
Out of the timeout, WKU was able to string together a 3–0 run of their own, forcing the Golden Eagles to take a timeout. Once play resumed, the Lady Toppers added four more points without a USM answer forcing, another timeout. WKU continued their run to close off the match with a sweep.
Cavanaugh led the match with 17 kills, but Travis Hudson was quick to give props to the WKU defense. The Lady Tops held Southern Miss to a 12% hitting clip and were led by senior Sydney Engle with 14 digs.
Overall, WKU advances to their fourth straight Conference USA Championship game and became the first team to sweep a match in the tournament so far. They will play the winner of North Texas and UTSA tomorrow at noon on ESPN3. Engle was especially adamant about her excitement to play one more game at Diddle Arena. If you’re free, go out an support the team in their quest for another conference championship.
Notes
This was the fourth matchup between teams from WKU and USM in some sort of Conference USA championship setting, and the Tops have won all four. The other three matchups all came in C-USA title games: Lady Topper basketball in 2015 and 2017 and Hilltopper football in 2015.
With an assist in the first set, Jessica Lucas moved into second place in school history for assists.
Alyssa Cavanaugh led the way with 17 assists.
WKU lost to North Texas, 3–2, earlier this month in Denton.
WKU defeated UTSA in straight sets in Bowling Green last month.
Travis Hudson, Alyssa Cavanaugh and Sydney Engle Postgame
Sam Gormley is one of the hosts of WKU RedZone Radio. RedZone Radio is a WKU-themed radio show that airs every Sunday at 7pm on Revolution 91.7. You can follow them on Facebook @WKURedZone or on Twitter @WKURedzone