Western Kentucky senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox collected her 100th kill of the season in Friday's 3-2 loss to Marquette at E.A. Diddle Arena.

Western Kentucky’s volleyball team pushed Marquette to five sets Friday morning and proved to be a tough opponent against the University of Dayton, but was unable to earn the win against both teams.

The Hilltoppers’ (4-4 overall) staunch defense gave them a three-block edge over the Golden Eagles (2-3 overall), 13-10, but timely Marquette swings proved to be the difference maker in the Golden Warriors’ 3-2 (25-19, 25-27, 22-25, 25-22, 15-10) win.

WKU and MU took turns having the better hitting percentage in the first through third sets, but it was Marquette who hit .253 to WKU’s .196 over the last two sets for the win.

Senior outside hitter Kaylee Coyle set a new season-high in kills with 19 while sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele collected 17 of her own in addition to eight blocks in the match. Redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer also had her first 50-assist match of the season in addition to leading the Hilltoppers in blocks with 18.

Facing their third ranked opponent in as many weeks, WKU was outpaced at the net in hitting percentage — .188 to Dayton’s .337 — and blocks, 9-6, in a 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20) loss Friday night.

At the service line, junior defensive specialist Callahan Wiegandt led WKU in service aces while Cox and senior right side Kenadee Coyle led in kills with eight.

WKU closes out its first tournament of the 2024 season with a match against Illinois on Saturday. First serve is set for 3 p.m.