No Diggins for WKU this weekend in Ann Arbor

Sophomore outside hitter Janee’ Diggins scores a dig against Marquette during the first set of WKU’s NCAA Tournament First Round match against Marquette in Champaign, Ill., on Friday. The Lady Toppers lost 3-1 and ended the season 31-4.

Elliott Pratt

The Lady Toppers (10-3) will be without junior outside hitter Janee Diggins this weekend when they head north to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the Coke/Michigan Invitational.  

Diggins suffered a severe ankle sprain on Tuesday in the Lady Toppers’ 3-0 win over Lipscomb, closing out a weeklong homestand in Diddle Arena.

“We’ll get her in and start getting some therapy and see how quickly we can get her back,” Coach Travis Hudson said.

There won’t be any cakewalks on WKU’s schedule this weekend, as the Lady Toppers’ opponents have combined for a 27-5 record.

WKU will battle Duke (8-1) at noon on Friday. The Lady Blue Devils are on a five-game winning streak and are tied for second in the Atlantic Coastal Conference standings.

The Lady Toppers will then turn around and face No. 22 Michigan that night at 7. Michigan moved up one spot in the AVCA polls this week and are 10-1 on the year.

WKU concludes the tournament against 9-3 Eastern Michigan (9-3) at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The Lady Eagles are coming off a loss to Oakland that snapped a six game winning streak and have a 7-1 record at neutral site tournaments.

WKU received 23 votes for the AVCA Top 25 polls this week and will look to move into the rankings with an impressive outing at the tournament.