WKU Volleyball: Putting the Tops’ Run to the Sweet Sixteen in Perspective

It’s late at night after WKU just got swept by a clearly incredible Kentucky squad. WKU’s incredible season comes to an end after a…

It’s late at night after WKU just got swept by a clearly incredible Kentucky squad. WKU’s incredible season comes to an end after a humbling sweep by the second seeded Kentucky Wildcats.

18th ranked WKU (23–1) ran into an absolute buzz saw in UK. Western never really got its teeth into the match, hanging with the Cats for the first two-thirds of the first set before fading late. The next two sets were a cakewalk for UK, and WKU’s truly historic season came to a close (25–20, 25–16, 25–10).

But I’m not sitting up writing an article at 12:09 in the morning because I want to talk about WKU’s lone loss on the season. I want to talk about the 23 wins. I want to talk about the 26 seasons Travis Hudson has led the Red and White from a borderline joke to a national power. And I want to talk about #7, Alyssa Cavanaugh.

Could this team have represented its fallen teammate any better this season? Alyssa Cavanaugh died on this past Christmas Day, and the spring season was dedicated in her memory. The team wore the “AC” patch on their jerseys, and boy, is there any question she’s smiling down from above?

What a season to remember!

23 wins in a shortened year, one of only two unbeaten teams (there were a ton this year because of COVID issues) remaining, quality wins, ranked 18th in the country (and likely higher at season’s end), and most importantly of all in terms of team history, FINALLY breaking through and making it to the Sweet 16.

By finally, I emphasize that it actually happened. A raucous Diddle Arena watched the Cardinals of Louisville crush Topper dreams in late 2019 in five sets in the Round of 32. In 2017, it was in the Round of 32 in five sets at the hands of Kentucky (15–12 in the final set). 2015. 2012. Four times, WKU made it to the Round of 32 and sputtered.

Heck, against Washington State, it kind of looked like it was happening again. But then the Tops went on a run and closed out the fifth set and I about woke up the whole house despite trying to shut my own self up.

Open the floodgates. Honestly, now that WKU has broken through and truly proven itself on the national stage, what player can Travis Hudson not sit in front of and have a legitimate chance to bring to Bowling Green? Not any recruit with awareness. This run is truly monumental for the program and WKU as a whole.

Put this in perspective: A program that had never really sniffed the NCAA Tournament went from a doormat losing half of the time to “Christian Brothers University” to a true national power. There are several reasons for that transition, as I’m sure the one true reason would tell you. But is there any sane person that would say that one true person wasn’t Travis Hudson?

The man has been at the helm on The Hill for 26 years. In a one bid conference (for the most part), in half of his seasons, WKU has gone to the NCAA Tournament. WKU has won a game in five of those different trips. The Lady Toppers advanced to their lone Sweet 16 this 2021 season.

As we continue in reverent awe of “Hud” and the Tops, let’s put some of the mind-boggling numbers into a WKU history perspective.

Several programs have never been in the top 16 in the country, period. Only football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball have been to a Round of 16 or better. Of course, FBS football is much different, but the Toppers of the gridiron are yet to grace the top 20 in the highest division of college football. The Tops did win a Division 1-AA (now FCS) National Championship in 2002.

WKU Baseball and Softball have both been within innings of Super Regionals in fairly recent memory but have never actually done the deed and made it to a Round of 16 or better.

In terms of historical success, after 2021, only Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball eclipse volleyball now in terms of postseason success. But none of the equivalent successes have happened in either of those sports in quite some time. Women’s basketball hasn’t won a game in the NCAA Tournament in 21 years. Men’s Basketball hasn’t been past the Round of 64 since 2009, and 2008 was the last time the Tops made it to the Sweet 16. The Lady Toppers have not made it to this prestigious spot since 1995.

This may seem like an insignificant time for some, but WKU history has been made in 2021. This accomplishment is exceedingly rare for a WKU program in general, but frankly, any mid-major program, especially in women’s sports. Because of varying levels of size and athleticism, the rarity of a women’s Conference USA program making a run in any sport should be noted. It is extremely difficult to match up with much larger and stronger teams and continue to win.

But Travis Hudson and the Tops have finally done it. They have finally broken the seal on the Sweet 16. After four previously failed attempts, WKU made it, and it must feel so sweet.

Travis has now put himself in the company of some of the great WKU coaches in history. He was already there, but accomplishing this has just enhanced the resume. Surely Hudson has to be considered a top five WKU coach of all-time, right? At worst on any reasonable list, maybe he’s sixth or seventh?

Only Diddle had the longer tenure. Only Sanderford and Oldham had the more post season success. No one has more championships or a higher winning percentage. Only Diddle had more wins. He’s won at least 20 games every single year since before Y2K. VHS tapes were just starting to fade out of popularity when Travis Hudson didn’t win 20. Only two losing seasons and none in more than two decades.

Give the man a statue already. Name something after him, for Todd’s sake!

Congratulations to the Lady Toppers!