WKU sweeps Liberty to claim sixth straight regular-season title

Published 10:45 pm Thursday, November 14, 2024

Western Kentucky’s volleyball team clinched its sixth straight regular-season championship on Thursday with their 17th three-set sweep of the season with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23) win against Liberty at E.A. Diddle Arena.

WKU (24-6 overall, 17-0 CUSA) posted a .408 hitting percentage to Liberty’s (13-16 overall, 7-10 CUSA) .228 led by both senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox and freshman pin hitter Alivia Skidmore with 16 and 15 kills, respectively.

“Just wow, so proud – so many great things are going to go on this weekend here on the Hill with our program and me but none will be more meaningful than that,” WKU coach Travis Hudson said in a news release. “It just means so much to see, to know the work our kids put in every year to try to get into a position to win a championship and to be able to do it in Diddle Arena against a very worth opponent.

“Liberty played really well tonight, they played like a team that had nothing to lose and were just kind of bringing it. They kept a lot of pressure on us but you know, you see us play that schedule we played way back when I think has hardened our team a bit. And so we don’t ever seem to waver. And we found a way to win tonight.”

Wasting no time in the first match of the weekend, both Skidmore and Cox posted five kills each to support WKU’s .424  hitting percentage. Not far behind the pair was sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele with four kills of her own. Freshman outside hitter Faith Young and redshirt junior setter Callie Bauer logged the sole block in the set.

The Flames seemingly could not stop Cox and Skidmore as the duo both added five more kills to their total with Skidmore hitting a .500 hitting percentage and Cox hitting .455 in the second frame. Van De Wiele also grabbed her first solo block of the night, while Skidmore also claimed the first service ace of the match.

With the regular-season championship in their sights, the Hilltoppers wrapped up the final set with a .378 hitting percentage and another solo block from Van De Wiele. Skidmore led the way in the third set with six kills, while Cox was right behind her with five. WKU’s performance at the service line also came alive with three additional service aces.

With the win against Liberty, the Hilltoppers have won six straight regular season championships for a total of 13 in the last 14 seasons.

Cox posted her 13th double-double of the season with 15 kills and a team-high 12 digs.

WKU will complete its regular season Friday night with a 6 p.m. rematch against Liberty at Diddle Arena.