WKU Volleyball returned to Diddle Arena Friday and Saturday to beat the Sam Houston Bearkats in back-to-back games, despite a close five-set game two.
“The beginning of that fifth set was really critical. If we fall behind early, I think the screws really tighten on our team,” Head Coach Travis Hudson said. “The crowd really got involved. I think it gave our young team some courage.”
Sophomore outside hitter Alivia Skidmore continued to be the dominant arm for the Hilltoppers, finishing game one with a career high 20 kills. Skidmore finished the weekend with 35 kills.
Freshman rightside hitter Kaira Knox returned to the court and tallied 17 kills over the weekend.
“We put her in the back row last week just to get her feet wet and then last night she was very, very tentative,” Hudson said. “She was a much better version of herself today.”
Game One
WKU took set one 25-21. Neither team gave an inch early, trading points back and forth. Following the Hilltoppers taking a 16-10 lead, the Bearkats went on a 5-0 run to make it a 16-15 deficit. WKU was able to recover, however, finding the holes in Sam Houston’s block and ending the set with a Skidmore kill.
WKU took set two 25-17. The Hilltoppers were in control for much of the set, jumping out to an 11-6 lead early. The Hilltoppers continued to expose the block of Sam Houston, hitting .324 on the set and taking the set off a kill by Skidmore
WKU took the third set 25-20. It was back and forth early in the set, tied 9-9. The Hilltoppers were able to take advantage of attack errors from Sam Houston, going on a 6-0 run to take a 15-9 lead. WKU took an 18-11 lead, however, the Bearkats answered, going on a 7-2 run to make it a 20-18 deficit. The Hilltoppers were able to regroup, ending the set and match off a kill from freshman outside hitter Sonja Laaksonen.
Game Two
WKU lost set one 21-25. The Hilltoppers opened scoring, leading to a quick back-and-forth with the Bearkats. Hilltopper errors kept the set tight in the first half. After a WKU timeout, the team began to find steam to bring scoring back to a back-and-forth. A kill from Sam Houston’s graduate student outside hitter Lauren Malone put the set away for the Bearkats.
WKU took set two 25-16. The set remained a tight back-and-forth between the two teams. The Hilltoppers found their footing, thanks in part to sophomore outside hitter Faith Young, who dominated the court with eight kills in the set. WKU gave the Bearkats no room to breathe and a kill from Skidmore gave the set to the Hilltoppers.
WKU took the set three 25-15. The Hilltoppers opened strong off their previous win. Junior middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele and freshman outside hitter Laaksonen carried the set with five and six kills. Laaksonen’s last kill put the set away for the Hilltoppers.
WKU lost a back-and-forth set four 21-25. The Bearkats eventually came out in front, taking the lead 6-9. The Bearkats had an answer for every Hilltoppers’ attack. A kill from Sam Houston’s sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Butler eventually put the set away.
WKU took the set 15-8. The Hilltoppers entered the set strong and opened the scoring. Sam Houston was down 8-2, but found their footing to raise the score 9-6. Their momentum wasn’t enough to rally, as the Hilltoppers answered every attack. Sam Houston’s freshman outside hitter Chloe Monson hit the ball into the net which put the set away for the Hilltoppers.
The Hilltoppers return to Diddle Arena to face Oct. 24 at 6 p.m..
