WKU Volleyball took home four of the six CUSA postseason awards ahead of the CUSA tournament. The Hilltoppers had six earn All-Conference team honors.
Senior setter Callie Bauer earned Setter of the Year and Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year. Junior Middle Hitter Izzy Van De Wiele earned Defensive Player of the Year, and freshman outside hitter Kaira Knox earned Freshman of the Year. Knox was named to the CUSA All-Freshman team.
Sophomore outside hitters Faith Young and Alivia Skidmore were named to the CUSA All-Conference First team along with Bauer, Van De Wiele and Knox. Sophomore Libero Tayler Baron was named to the CUSA All-Conference Second Team.
Bauer earned herself the Alyssa Cavanaugh Player of the Year. This is the fifth consecutive year a WKU player has won the honor. Bauer also earned her second straight setter of the year award, after seven weekly setter awards. Bauer has racked up over 900 assists and 196 digs. She has also cemented herself in WKU history with 4,800 assists, sitting fourth all-time for the Hilltoppers.
Van De Wiele was named defensive player of the year after a regular season where she racked up 94 blocks and 1.29 blocks per set. The Hilltoppers as a team rank 50th in the country with 2.47 blocks per set.
Despite missing a month of action with an ankle injury, Knox earned Freshman of the Year. Knox racked up 238 kills in just 23 matches. She had five or more kills in 19 games, finishing with 20 or more kills three times. Knox had a career-high 22 kills in a sweep over Indiana, the most by a freshman in a single match in over 20 years. Knox is fifth for the Hilltoppers in digs and service aces.
Young, Skidmore and Baron capped off their sophomore campaign, earning first-team All-Conference and second-team All-Conference. Young and Skidmore were named to the first team after leading the Hilltoppers with 255 kills and 316 kills, respectively. Young leads the Hilltoppers with 30 service aces. Baron was the lone Hilltopper named to the second team, appearing in every game. Baron leads the team with 360 digs and is second in service aces with 22.
Next up for WKU is the CUSA tournament hosted by FIU. The Hilltoppers will take on New Mexico State Friday, Nov 21. First serve is set for 5 p.m. on ESPN+.
