Breaking up a pair of four-match homestands, Western Kentucky’s volleyball team is headed out for a long weekend of travel with stops at UAB and FIU on the docket.

The Lady Toppers will look to continue building on their Conference USA-record 30-straight wins over league opponents first on Friday night with a 7 p.m. CT tilt slated in Birmingham, Ala. Weekend play will conclude Sunday at noon CT down in Miami.

After its non-conference finale with Austin Peay on Tuesday, WKU (19-2) will jump back into Conference USA action Friday night at Bartow Arena. UAB enters the weekend match up with a 9-12 overall record and an even 3-3 mark in C-USA play. The Blazers are currently tied for sixth in the league’s standings while WKU sits atop the rankings with the only unblemished C-USA record remaining at 5-0.

UAB and WKU have common opponents in Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee, Charlotte and Louisiana Tech entering the weekend. WKU swept all four common teams while UAB dropped 3-1 decisions to Austin Peay, Charlotte and Louisiana Tech. The Blazers defeated Middle Tennessee 3-1.

The Blazers return 12-of-17 letterwinners from last year’s 11-19 squad in addition to all six starters. UAB leads the all-time series against the Lady Toppers 22-7 with WKU claiming the six most recent decisions dating back to 1996.

On Sunday, WKU will turn its attention to the FIU Panthers. FIU enters its weekend opener against Charlotte owning a 2-10 overall record. The Panthers own a 1-4 showing in C-USA play and are tied for 11th in the standings. 

Due to Hurricane Irma, WKU and FIU have only faced one common opponent on the season as the Panthers’ match against Ohio State as part of the Coastal Carolina Classic was canceled. FIU dropped a 3-1 decision to Tennessee State in Nashville, Tenn., back on Sept. 2, just after WKU swept the Tigers in the 2017 Diddle Arena opener on Aug. 29.

FIU returns 13 of its 19 letterwinners from last year’s 9-19 squad. Additionally three starters and the libero return from Rita Buck Crockett’s 2016 unit.

WKU leads the all-time series against the Panthers 33-8 including wins in the 14 most-recent matchups. The Lady Toppers have swept FIU in every meeting during their Conference USA membership.

Following the weekend matchups, WKU will return home for its second four-match homestand of the season starting on Oct. 20 with UTEP.