The Lady Toppers opened the WKU Tournament and their home season on Friday with a comeback win, beating Xavier in four sets, 3-1.

WKU dropped the first set 25-19 but then took the match’s next three sets.

“We succeeded on a lot of levels out there today,” Head Coach Travis Hudson said after the match. “For us to turn the momentum like that against a very good Xavier team is a statement to what our team can do.”

The win over Xavier brings WKU’s overall record up to 7-1 in its first eight matches— the first seven of which were on the road.

A large part of the comeback win came because of junior outside hitter Jordyn Skinner, who led all players with 30 of the team’s 57 total kills.

“She was special out there today,” Hudson said. “We knew there were gonna be nights where she has to step up for us, and she definitely stepped up for us tonight.”

Skinner’s .364 hitting percentage was second on the team to junior outside hitter Paige Wessel, whose 13 kills brought her hitting percentage up to .393.

Sophomore setter Melanie Stutsman tied her season-high in assists with 46. She was one of seven WKU athletes to play in all four sets.

Sophomore defensive specialist Ashley Potts led the team with 20 digs, with Skinner and junior defensive specialist Sarah Rogers each recording 12.

WKU beat Xavier 3-1 in Cincinnati last season. The Lady Toppers’ win today marks four years in a row they’ve beaten the Musketeers.

WKU will be in action again at 7 p.m. tonight against Wake Forest in its second game of the WKU Tournament.