Playing at E.A. Diddle Arena for the last time in 2024, Western Kentucky’s seniors led the way to defeat Liberty 3-1 (25-15, 25-15, 26-28, 32-30) in front of the 12th best crowd in WKU volleyball history.

Senior hitters Kaylee Cox and Kenadee Coyle finished in double digit kills — 23 and 17 respectively — while sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele led the way defensively with 10 total blocks. Cox’s 23 kills for the Hilltoppers (25-6 overall, 18-0 Conference USA) tied her career best, while Coyle’s 17 kills against the Flames (13-17 overall, 7-11 CUSA) was a season high.

Coyle swung for an .800 hitting percentage in the first set, while Cox and freshman outside hitter Faith Young put together three-kill performances. Junior middle hitter Gabby Weihe and Coyle banded together for a block, while Van De Wiele grabbed one of the solo variety. WKU capitalized on six attack errors from the Flames as well as 13 total kills to hold Liberty to an .063 hitting percentage to their .400 clip. Cox also recorded two service aces, while junior defensive specialist Callahan Wiegandt had one of her own.

Cruising to another win in set two, the Hilltoppers posted another hitting percentage over .350 with a .367, while Liberty could not improve past .100 with a .062 in the second. Coyle handed Cox the offensive lead with the Texas native collecting six kills to Coyle’s four. Meanwhile at the net, Van De Wiele added another two blocks with Cox matching her defensive efforts with two blocks of her own. A third Hilltopper, senior outside hitter Katie Howard, added a service ace to their stat line as well.

The Flames battled back in the third set, eventually winning 28-26. Despite registering more kills than Liberty, WKU’s attack and service errors were the difference maker in the frame. Cox put together an eight-kill performance, while Coyle was second with four. Van De Wiele also added another three blocks to her total.

Needing eight different match points before the decisive 32-30 final, both Liberty and WKU recorded at least 15 kills — 16 and 17 respectively — but it was the perfect ending to senior day with Coyle scoring her only service ace of the entire season to end the match. Both Coyle and freshman outside hitter Alivia Skidmore registered five kills each, while Cox put up another six. Van De Wiele capped off the night with another four blocks while Coyle put up three of her own.

The win against Liberty marked the 92nd straight CUSA regular season win for WKU.

Callie Bauer finished with 51 assists. Abby Schaefer and Wiegandt tied for the lead in digs with 11.

With their perfect CUSA campaign complete, the Hilltoppers will head to El Paso, Texas, next week to play in the CUSA tournament. Having secured the No. 1 seed, WKU will play on Nov. 22 at noon with the opponent announced later this weekend.