The WKU Volleyball program unveiled its official schedule for the upcoming 2021-22 season on Wednesday morning. In addition to an exhibition match against the reigning national champion Kentucky Wildcats, the Hilltoppers will be hosting 13 matches at E.A. Diddle Arena and will compete in 13 matches on the road for a total of 26 matches for the season. The full schedule can be found here.

“We are excited to finally be releasing our 2021 schedule,” head coach Travis Hudson shared in a press release. “We are looking forward to returning to more normal game times in the fall which will allow our fan base the opportunity to make a huge difference on game day. The momentum we have created over the last two seasons has this community excited for volleyball in a way that it never has been before. Diddle Arena will be an exciting, fun atmosphere that has the chance to be something very special for our players to experience and something very difficult for our opponents to compete in.”

Coming off the most successful season in program history, the Hilltoppers will face off against four programs that reached the NCAA Tournament last season.

Season tickets for the upcoming season are available now. Fans will receive 13 flexible tickets for $50 for use at all home games. The general admission for this season will be full capacity. Single-match tickets will be sold online or at the door at $6 for adults and $3 for kids 12 and under.

On Thursday, Aug. 19, the Hilltoppers will be hosting the top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats at home for the exhibition match.

WKU will officially open its season in South Bend, Indiana with matchups against Oakland, Notre Dame, and Loyola Chicago. The following Tuesday, WKU will host the Belmont Bruins at home before heading to Nashville to face off against Lipscomb, Kansas, and Wake Forest.

Within the first nine matches, the Hilltoppers will be facing off against three NCAA Tournament teams from the previous season as well as four Power Five programs.

Samford, Ole Miss, and UT Martin will be visiting Bowling Green for the Holiday Inn – University Plaza Invitational from Sept. 10-11. The weekend following the invitational, the Hilltoppers will host St. John’s, Ohio, and Austin Peay for the WKU Invitational. Although the Lipscomb Bisons will be a competitor in the event, they will not be facing off against WKU more than once.

The Marshall Thundering Herd will be in Bowling Green on Sept. 24-25 to close out WKU’s homestand and open conference play. C-USA will continue to utilize divisions in the upcoming season so the Hilltoppers will be playing each East Division competitor twice.

The Hilltoppers will open the month of October with three away matches. WKU will travel south for matches at FIU and will follow that up with a visit to Eastern Kentucky for a midweek match on Oct. 6.

Starting on Oct. 15, the Hilltoppers will be alternating between home and away against conference opponents. WKU will alternate against Middle Tennessee on Oct. 15-16, against Florida Atlantic on Oct. 22-23, against Old Dominion on Oct. 28-29, and at Charlotte on Nov. 5 and Nov. 7 to close out the regular season. The Conference USA Tournament will be hosted by Old Dominion from Nov. 19-21 in Norfolk, Virginia.

Sports reporter Drew Toennies can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @drew_toennies.