In an electric E.A Diddle Arena Tuesday, WKU volleyball had their first home game, taking on the No. 16 Tennessee Volunteers in a five-set thriller that saw Tennessee come out victorious 3-2.
Despite the Hilltopper loss, senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox came away with 18 kills, and two service aces. The kills were set up by redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer who had 48 assists. In support of Cox’s 18 kills, senior right side Kenadee Coyle racked up nine kills of her own.
“Obviously a hard fought match, huge thank you to our crowd, what a great atmosphere for college volleyball,” Head Coach Travis Hudson said. “We haven’t been a very good version of ourselves this early in our year, but tonight we were. Tonight I think we showed to anyone that watched we are still a team to be reckoned with and one of the better teams in the country.”
Freshman Outside Hitter Faith Young said this about the crowd.
“I definitely think it was a great experience, just being able to be on the court and have all these amazing supporters just makes it feel like a little home,” Young said.
FIRST SET
The first set went back and forth. Despite both teams looking for momentum, the defenses on both sides were stout. After a run set up by a kill from setter Caroline Kerr to give the Volunteers a 19-16 advantage, the Hilltoppers surged a comeback together to tie it 20-20 in the first set.
Everything seemed to go right for Tennessee towards the end of set one as they had four players with two or more kills. The volunteers were able to take the first set 25-22 behind serving from graduate outside hitter Nina Cajic, and senior defensive specialist Abby Ekeler.
SECOND SET
The Hilltoppers came out firing on all cylinders in the second set. Fueled by a couple of service errors from the Volunteers, WKU jumped out to an early 8-3 lead. After a timeout by Tennessee to stop the run, the Hilltoppers continued to expose the block of the Volunteers and put set two away 25-15.
THIRD SET
Much like the first set, the Hilltoppers and Volunteers traded points back and forth to begin set three. Tennessee solidified their block to give the Volunteers a 13-8 advantage.
The Hilltoppers were unable to find an answer for the back row attack from Cajic who was set up by Kerr. The Volunteers continued to find an answer to WKU’s offense, putting the set away 25-12.
“It really doesn’t matter if it’s 25-23 or 25-10 like none of that matters, at the end of the day you wash it, you start over and you get ready and play the next set.,” Hudson said following the rough third set. “I thought our kids had a tough mental toughness approach, as did Tennessee.
FOURTH SET
Neither the Hilltoppers nor Volunteers were able to pull away early in the set. With back-to-back service errors from Tennessee and superb serving from the Hilltoppers, WKU went up 18-13 late in the fourth set. After a much needed timeout from the Volunteers, Tennessee got momentum back and closed the gap to make it 21-19.
Despite the late surge from the Volunteers, Coyle was able to put the set away with a kill to push it to the five sets with a score 25-23.
FIFTH SET
In the fifth set, the Volunteers gave themselves a slim lead to start via the back row attack the Hilltoppers were unable to stop. Late in the fifth set, Cox came up with two big kills to bring the Hilltoppers within two and force a Volunteer timeout.
Coming out of the timeout, Tennessee gave themselves another three point advantage, 14-11, setting up match point. A kill by Junior outside hitter Hayden Kubick put the game to rest 15-11.
WKU volleyball will look to bounce back Friday, Sept. 13, when they kick off the Hyatt Place Invitational at Diddle Arena against Marquette.
Sports reporter Peyton Reid can be reached at [email protected]
