Paige Briggs, WKU Volleyball’s fifth year outside hitter, has proven to be a team leader after being named the Conference USA offensive player of the week for the second time during the 2024 season. Despite being an out of state recruit from Michigan, she has clearly worked her way into becoming an integral part of the WKU volleyball team over the past five years.
As a freshman, the outside hitter competed with upperclassmen proving her talent, as she claimed 388 kills in the 2019 season. During her next two seasons, there was a slight drop off in her overall kills. She led right behind former middle hitter Lauren Matthews in kills during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
When she entered into her senior year in 2022, she stepped up her game to play her best season yet. Briggs finished the season with 416 kills, as she kept tight to Matthews with 467 kills.
Now, in her final season as a Hilltopper, she holds 219 kills with a .335 hitting percentage. Currently, Briggs has amassed 1619 total kills with a .305 hitting percentage throughout her career at Western Kentucky University.
Paige holds strong to her commitment with volleyball and her team. As a fifth-year senior, she has taken on a leadership role in stride. “Having to be calm for all my teammates and just being competitive every single day,” is one way Briggs carries out that role.
She also notes that being positive with inspiring and uplifting messages is vital to combat the tangible mindset of the younger players.
WKU held a top 25 NCAA ranking earlier in the season, which can be linked to the competitive nature of the team and its subsequent leader(s). “They are not okay with just being okay. They want to be perfect,” Briggs said, on behalf of her teammates.
Additionally, Paige has looked back on her personal development outside of the court. The naturally creative student-athlete is a visual studies major with a graphic design and entrepreneurship minor. In creating her portfolio, she has been a creative in developing brochures and digitals for WKU athletics.
When asked about life after college, Paige Briggs directed her interest towards playing professional volleyball in the United States. Her main focus outside of volleyball is centered toward the creative field, primarily in graphic design.
Nevertheless, regardless of her future, it is clear that she has gained skills and experience through her time as a division-1 athlete that she will be able to apply to the rest of her life.
WKU Volleyball and Briggs will return to the court Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. CST. to take on the Liberty Flames at Liberty University.
Sports reporter Shelby Huelsman can be reached at [email protected].
Paige Briggs – Women’s Volleyball – Western Kentucky University Athletics (wkusports.com)
