The WKU volleyball team (2-2) is back in action this weekend, competing in the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

First up for the Lady Toppers is University of the Incarnate Word (1-2) on Friday at 10 a.m., before facing off against host school Missouri State (1-2) at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s competitions will begin when the Lady Toppers clash with undefeated Milwaukee (3-0) at 10:30 a.m., and they’ll wrap up the weekend at 2:30 p.m. against Oral Roberts (2-1).

The Lady Toppers are coming off a three-set sweep in their home opener against Belmont, and will look to keep pushing the envelope on their youth-filled team moving forward.

“What I’m looking for is just experience. We need to play matches,” Head Coach Travis Hudson said. “We can beat anybody and we can lose to anybody. That’s just where we are right now.”

Consistency seems to be the theme for the Lady Toppers in these early weeks of competition, coupled with the basic idea of each player being held accountable for their own responsibilities.

“It will come with time. I like our team,” Hudson said. “Come see us in late October and see how we are playing. I have a feeling we will be pretty good.”

Freshman setter Jessica Lucas knows that there’s more to accomplish than just winning in these upcoming matches, and as one of five freshmen on the team, she knows how important the other priorities are.

“Obviously, we want to win,” Lucas said. “But also just to grow as a team.”

This need for growth has been echoed by Hudson, as well as teammates Heather Boyan and Noelle Langenkamp in the past weeks.

“We are definitely working on ourselves,” Lucas said. “If you take care of yourself, then the team will take care of itself.”

Hudson said the team will progress over time, but he said he’s having trouble waiting for that time to come.

“We need consistency out of our upperclassmen,” Hudson said. “The Heather Boyans and Haley Bodways – the players that can go out and do it every night need to go out and do it every night.

“Hopefully, we can learn these lessons and move forward. It will come with time. I’m probably the most impatient one of the bunch.”