By the Daily News

With a share of the regular season championship on the line, Western Kentucky’s volleyball team only needed 80 total minutes to earn the 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-20) win over Sam Houston State on Saturday in Huntsville, Texas.

WKU (23-6 overall, 16-0 Conference USA) held the Bearkats (13-14 overall, 8-8 CUSA) to a .036 hitting percentage while posting a .287 hitting percentage themselves. Leading the way for the Hilltoppers was senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox with 14 total kills while also collecting four total blocks including three solos. Her four total blocks also tied sophomore middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele for the most blocks in the match.

The Hilltoppers quickly got to work in set one, cruising to 12 kills to SHSU’s seven with a 90% sideout percentage to accompany their .417 hitting percentage. Cox led the way with her four kills while freshman middle hitter Faith Young registered three of her own. Young also led WKU defensively with two blocks in the first set.

It was all about the freshmen in the second set as the Bearkats showed signs of life, improving from a -.103 hitting percentage to a .114, but the Hilltoppers handled them accordingly with a .333 hitting percentage of their own. Leading in those 14 kills was Young and fellow freshman hitter Alivia Skidmore with four kills apiece. Van De Wiele also continued her dominance at the net with two blocks.

Cox absolutely exploded in the final set with eight kills of her own while posting two more solo blocks. Young logged two more kills while four different Hilltoppers grabbed at least one kill. Junior libero Abby Schaefer anchored the back row with seven digs and finished with 18 during the match.

With the win, WKU claims at least a share of the regular season championship. They will have a chance to win outright against Liberty later next week.

Cox posted her 12th double-double of the season with 14 kills and 11 digs, while Faith Young was second with nine kills.

WKU’s Abby Schaefer collected her 1,000th career dig over the weekend.

The Hilltoppers will play its final CUSA series of the 2024 season at E.A. Diddle Arena on Thursday and Friday against Liberty. First serve is set for 6 p.m.