WKU Volleyball swept Missouri State on its first road trip of the CUSA season. 

The wins extended the Hilltoppers to 96 straight CUSA regular-season wins and put head coach Travis Hudson just six wins away from 800 in his career.

Sophomore outside hitting duo Alivia Skidmore and Faith Young dominated the court through both games. Skidmore had 34 kills through the weekend and Young had 24.

Game One

WKU took set one 25-21. The Hilltoppers were in complete control, jumping out to a 17-11 lead late. Missouri State looked to battle back, closing the gap to three. However, the six kills from Skidmore were too much, and put the set away.

WKU took set two 25-16. It was a back-and-forth battle early in the set, neither team wanting to give in, tied 8-8. The Hilltoppers found their footing, led by freshman defensive specialist Kennedy Cherry from the service line, taking a 19-13 lead and never looking back. Errors continued to pile up for Missouri State, leading to a kill for WKU which put the set away.

WKU dropped set three 25-20. In a win-or-go-home set, the Bears had all the answers for WKU. The Hilltoppers could not seem to get their footing, as Missouri State took a commanding 19-13 lead. A service error gave the Bears the set despite WKU’s late rally.

WKU took set four 30-28. Neither team could pull away, with just two points separating them all set. After trading kills and attack errors, it took more than the standard 25 points to end the set. The Hilltoppers took advantage of one last attack error, leading to a kill from Skidmore which put the set and match away.

Game Two

WKU swept Missouri State in three sets in game two. 

The Hilltoppers took set one 25-20. WKU took control of a back-and-forth set past the halfway point, putting the final nail in the coffin following an attack error from Missouri State’s Rilynn Finley. 

The Hilltoppers took set two 25-13. The Hilltoppers started fast, scoring and taking an early lead. WKU dominated the court and capitalized on Missouri State errors. The set flew by with kills from several players, four from Skidmore, and blocks from junior middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele. A service ace from Skidmore put the set away. 

WKU took set three 25-14. Scoring opened and became a back-and-forth before the Hilltoppers found their footing. Once the Hilltoppers found their footing, they kept the momentum throughout the set. A kill by freshman outside hitter Sonja Laaksonen sent the match home.

The Hilltoppers travel to Louisiana to play Louisiana Tech Oct. 10.