WKU’s home matches this weekend against Denver and North Texas are more than just important conference matches.

This weekend is the last time in Diddle Arena for the Lady Toppers’ two senior middle hitters, Tiffany Elmore and Lindsay Williams.

“I’m just going to try and give it all I’ve got because it’s the last time I’m going to be able to play in Diddle,” Williams said. “I’m just going to do the best I can and end with a bang.”

Elmore also said it’s important for WKU (23-3 regular season, 10-1 Sun Belt Conference) to close its home season on a high note. 

She said she hopes to put on a show for everyone in the stands.

“It’s my last time playing in Diddle, the last time I get to play with my teammates in Diddle, and the last time I get to play in front of the community,” Elmore said. “It’s kind of bittersweet.”

Finishing strong is a top priority for the Lady Toppers. WKU is currently tied for first in the Sun Belt East Division with Middle Tennessee State, who handed the Lady Toppers their only conference loss this season.

The two teams will meet again in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Nov. 11, the last match on WKU’s schedule.

Head Coach Travis Hudson said it’s important to get wins at the end of the year to finish strong.

“We’re in a race for a conference championship,” he said. “We have to continue to pile on wins and hopefully make that match against Middle Tennessee in the end matter.”

The matches this weekend are also especially significant for Hudson. He stands just one win away from his 400th career victory.

Hudson has compiled a 399-175 career record in his 17 seasons as WKU volleyball head coach and said the milestone is a credit to the athletes that have played for the school.

“I’ve just been very fortunate to have great kids that have come here and done the right things and believed in what we’re doing,” he said. “You look up one day and all of the sudden you’re close to something like this and it’s a pretty neat deal.”

The Lady Toppers will take on Denver at 7 p.m. Friday and will face North Texas at noon tomorrow.

Elmore said she expects a lot of crowd support during her final home matches.

“We’ve had great community support and really great student support so I expect it to be live and loud and energetic just like it always is,” she said.

Several home matches have had big crowds this season, including an attendance of 1,523 for a match against Florida International Oct. 15 during Hilltopper Hystera.

“There have been some large crowds in Diddle this year — crowds that I have not been used to seeing,” sophomore setter Melanie Stutsman said. “They’ve been great though.”

Williams said she hopes the Lady Toppers step up during her last home matches this weekend.

“We’re just trying to beat whoever comes at us,” she said. “It doesn’t really matter who it is or what they’re ranked, we’re just trying to give everyone the same kind of effort.”