Losing reigning Conference USA player of the year Paige Briggs to graduation, WKU volleyball looks to have another successful season while also having one of the smallest rosters in recent years.
“We have a small roster and we have to stay healthy, and knock on wood we have done that through preseason so we are excited to finally get into game week.” Head Coach Travis Hudson said.
Despite having one of the smallest rosters, Hudson said that the 2024 roster is one of the deepest teams he has had.
“We have a lot of kids that can play, this is as deep a team we have had, it’s ironic to say because I told you it’s the smallest roster we have had in many many years but it’s also the deepest team we have had in many many years,” Hudson said. “We only have 12 kids on our roster and I honestly believe you will see 12 kids play most weekends.”
Of the 12 members on this year’s roster, eight of them are returners from last year’s C-USA winning squad. One of those eight is senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox, who was announced as C-USA’s preseason player of the year on Aug. 22.
“I think last year I had Paige [Briggs] to take over that and I think this year will be a little bit different for me just stepping into more of a leadership role, I think going in I’m trying to lead more and kind of help my teammates along the way as we have two freshman outsides and I’ve really been trying to help them get ready,” Cox said. “So just being a huge leader on our team and just trying to step up in bigger ways this year.”
WKU will be battle tested early this season as the team starts their season off this weekend in the Bluegrass Battle where they will face Morehead State on Friday, Aug. 30 as well as Northern Kentucky and No. 9 ranked Kentucky respectively on Saturday Aug. 31.
WKU has been dominant in C-USA since joining the league in 2014. In that time, they have won eight out of the possible 10 C-USA regular season titles as well as eight of the 10 C-USA tournament titles they have appeared in.
The success has come from the backing of head coach Travis Hudson who is entering his 30th season at WKU. In his time with the Hilltoppers, Hudson has surmounted a record of 752-227 record. With these accomplishments, Hudson was announced as a member of the 2024 WKU Athletics Hall of Fame Class.
“It’s the ultimate honor to be included with the people that I grew up on here at Western Kentucky, I know I’m the old guy that’s been here for 30 years as the head coach now but I was once a student walking around that hill,” Hudson said. “I’ve always said my whole entire career I’ve never felt like a college volleyball coach. I’ve always felt like the Western Kentucky volleyball coach and this is a very reaffirming moment you know for that mentality for sure,” Hudson said.
Looking outside C-USA, the Hilltoppers have one of their toughest non-conference schedules in recent years. As mentioned previously they will play No. 9 ranked Kentucky this weekend along with playing No. 15 Tennessee, No. 24 Marquette and No. 22 Dayton later on in the season.
“We are going to have days when we are playing twice in the same day against top 25 teams, so there is no question that depth is going to be put to the test but we are going to find out a lot about ourselves at the same time,” Hudson said.
