WKU Volleyball sweeps UTSA thanks to high-powered offense
WKU senior outside hitter makes a block against FIU during a Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 matchup in E.A. Diddle Arena on WKU Campus in Bowling Green, Ky. WKU won 3-0.
October 9, 2022
No. 25 WKU Volleyball (17-2, 5-0 C-USA) defeated the University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners (6-10, 1-4 C-USA) 3-0 Sunday afternoon in Diddle Arena.
The Hilltoppers entered the match as the third-best offense in the nation and five players had a hitting percentage over .300. WKU had a .402 hitting percentage, tallied 41 kills, created seven service aces and produced eleven total blocks against the Roadrunners.
WKU was led by an impressive performance by fifth-year senior Lauren Matthews, who had 14 kills and three total blocks. Senior Paige Briggs had nine kills, three aces and two solo blocks in the match.
The first set was a contested battle, one WKU ultimately won 25-18. The Roadrunners led 7-3 in the set after two service aces to rattle the Hilltoppers. WKU found a spark as seniors Paige Briggs and Matthews attacked UTSA. Matthews had five kills combined with a hitting percentage of .714 on the set. Matthews’ physical, dominant play set the tone for the match.
The second set carried the physical tone the Hilltoppers defined in the previous set. The set began with the teams trading shots. UTSA held a 5-4 lead, then WKU continued its dominance. The Hilltoppers went on an impressive 11-4 run. The Roadrunners struggled with six attack errors, six service errors and a hitting percentage of .111. WKU had 10 kills, three service aces, three blocks and a hitting percentage of .333 in the second set 25-17 victory.
The Hilltoppers dominated the third set, showing their elite ability to close out opponents. WKU never allowed UTSA to hold a lead in the set. The Hilltoppers had 16 kills, three service aces and three blocks. The Hilltopper offense was too powerful for the Roadrunners and the sweep was completed 25-19.
WKU’s hitting percentage of .402 allowed the Hilltoppers to control the game.
“Callie Bauer is a great setter and our hitters take care of the ball,” head coach Travis Hudson said. “It means if you’re going to beat Western Kentucky, you’ve got to beat Western Kentucky because we aren’t going to beat ourselves.”
The Hilltoppers’ next match will be against North Texas on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. CT.
Sports reporter Cole McIntire can be reached at [email protected].
