WKU volleyball hosted Arkansas State, Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay Sept. 20-21, for the second annual Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic.
WKU looked for momentum after losing all three of their games during the Hyatt Place Invitational last weekend, and that is what they did. The Hilltoppers swept all three games of the weekend.
GAME ONE
To begin the first set against Arkansas State, the Hilltoppers got out to a good start and took a 12-5 lead after serving from senior outside hitter Katie Howard and multiple kills from senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox. However, the Red Wolves came back firing thanks to kills by junior outside hitter Abby Harris to cut the Hilltopper lead to two, 17-15. Despite the run from Arkansas State, WKU took set one 25-22.
Set two saw the teams trade scores until WKU went on a seven-point run to make it 14-11. This run from WKU came from errors by Arkansas State as well as serving from junior defensive specialist Callahan Wiegandt. The Red Wolves took a 19-18 lead late due to attack errors from the Hilltoppers. Regardless of the run from Arkansas State the Hilltoppers put the set away 28-26.
In the third set, the Hilltoppers put the match away after they jumped out to a 22-15 lead, led by kills from Cox as well as sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele. A kill from freshman outside hitter Faith Young ended the match, giving the Hilltoppers the win 25-20.
GAME TWO
Eastern Illinois and the Hilltoppers exchanged points back and forth to begin set one. Serving from Wiegandt and a couple of kills by redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer gave the Hilltoppers 13-6 lead. It was a balanced attack from WKU as Eastern Illinois was unable to get any momentum. The Hilltoppers put the set away 25-12 as WKU had 15 kills in just one set.
Much like set one the Hilltoppers came out hot in set two after a huge run set up by serving from defensive specialist graduate student Madyson Chitty to help the Hilltoppers jump out to a huge 17-3 lead. After the 14-point lead Eastern Illinois could get nothing going as WKU continued to roll and win set two 25-9.
WKU jumped out to a 18-7 lead after three kills from senior right side hitter Kenadee Coyle in the third set. After yet another lead the Hilltoppers put the set and match away 25-15.
GAME THREE
The Hilltoppers took a lead early in the first set against Austin Peay and never let go. The Governors looked to get back in the set with a three-point run to make it 15-13, however, WKU would go on to win 25-18 with 15 kills as a team. Coyle added four kills, while Cox led with five.
The second set was a close one throughout, as neither team led by more than three for the entirety of the set. The Governors led late, 23-22, but WKU scored four out of the next five points and won the game 26-24, shutting the door on Austin Peay.
The Hilltoppers dominated the final set, shutting the door on an Austin Peay comeback. Van De Wiele led the charge with three kills. It was never close, with WKU winning 25-13.
The Hilltoppers are back in action next weekend as they travel to meet Jacksonville State in a two-game series.
Photos: WKU volleyball sweeps the Alyssa Cavanaugh Classic 3-0
