Western Kentucky volleyball coach Travis Hudson directs his team Dec. 1 against Notre Dame during the Lady Toppers’ 3-0 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Lexington.

Western Kentucky just graduated a senior class that went to four NCAA Tournaments and combined for eight All-America selections. The Lady Toppers now move forward without the talented trio of Alyssa Cavanaugh, Sydney Engle and Jessica Lucas.

“We’re going to be really, really young (in 2018), but we have a really, really exciting group coming in,” WKU coach Travis Hudson said.

Hudson spoke Wednesday at a WKU coaches night at Indian Hills Country Club alongside women’s basketball coach Greg Collins and football coach Mike Sanford.

Hudson, entering his 24th season as the Lady Tops’ volleyball coach, shared his enthusiasm for incoming freshmen Payton Frederick, Katie Isenbarger and Lauren Matthews.

Those three fall signees will report this summer. Hudson hopes they’ll help his squad compete for a fifth straight Conference USA title and the program’s 12th NCAA Tournament appearance – all of which have come since 2002.

Frederick, Isenbarger and Matthews join a talented returning core that includes All-American middle hitter Rachel Anderson, outside hitter Taylor Dellinger and defensive specialist Emma Kowalkowski.

Payton Frederick

5-6, Louisville, Assumption High School, Libero

Frederick will hold a unique spot in WKU history, Hudson said, because she’s set to become the first second-generation player in program history.

Frederick’s mother, the former Cindy Edlin, lettered for the Lady Toppers under former coach Charlie Daniels from 1985-87.

“Her mother played on one of the original teams that started here in the sport of volleyball,” Hudson said. “That’s a really unique thing to see her mom come back and relive it all.

“They’re a terrific family and she’s a great player, too. That’ll be nice to have a second-generation Lady Topper back in Diddle Arena as well.”

Frederick won a pair of Kentucky high school state championships in 2015 and ‘17 at Assumption. She landed on the AVCA Under Armour High School All-American list and was also tabbed an All-District athlete in 2016.

Frederick will join Kowalkowski and Darby Music as defensive players for Hudson’s squad.

Katie Isenbarger

6-foot, Zionsville, Ind., Zionsville HS, Middle Hitter

Isenbarger is a special athlete, Hudson said, whether she’s on the volleyball court or participating in track and field.

“She just cleared 6-1 as a high school high jumper, which is the highest mark in the United States this year for a high school athlete,” Hudson said. “I ran it by our track coaches, and one of our assistant track coaches told me that with that mark, she’d finish fourth at the NCAA meet right now.

“She needs a little bit more polishing as a volleyball player but she’s a pretty spectacular athlete.”

Isenbarger carries athletic genes. Her father, Phil Isenbarger, played basketball at Indiana and was part of the Hoosiers’ 1981 national championship team.

Isenbarger helped Zionsville to sectional championships from 2015-17 in addition to regional champion status and a final four appearance in 2016. The middle hitter achieved the 1,000-kill milestone during her prep career and was recently named to the All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference Team.

Like Frederick, Isenbarger was named to the AVCA Under Armour High School All-American list.

Lauren Matthews

6-foot, Indianapolis, Lawrence North HS, Middle Hitter

Matthews joins Isenbarger as signees from the Indianapolis area heading to WKU this fall.

Matthews owns Lawrence North’s career blocking record with 541, in addition to the career kill record with 1,121.

Matthews helped her squad to its first sectional championship since 1979 and was tabbed First-Team All-State during her final two seasons. For the past three years, Matthews earned First-Team All-Conference and All-Marion County honors.

Isenbarger and Matthews join Anderson and Kayland Jackson as middle hitters on the Lady Tops’ roster.

“Remember the name Lauren Matthews,” Hudson said. “… I think she’s a kid that absolutely has the potential to be named a Conference USA Freshman of the Year-type kid. She’s a special athlete.”{&end}