Western Kentucky’s volleyball team secured its first tournament title of the 2018 season Saturday with a 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23) victory over Miami (Ohio) in the Holiday Inn-University Plaza Invite at E.A. Diddle Arena.

WKU (6-4) garnered top honors as junior Emma Kowalkowski was named Tournament MVP and sophomore Hallie Shelton also earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

The Lady Toppers opened the match with a 25-13 first-set win. Shelton notched five of her 11 kills in the frame. Taylor Bebout racked up six of her seven digs on the day in the set as well.

Rachel Anderson had five kills to lead WKU to a 25-23 victory in the second set. Katie Isenbarger added four kills in the frame.

The RedHawks claimed a 25-22 third-set victory to force the fourth frame.

Looking to avoid a fifth set for the second-straight match, WKU coach Travis Hudson’s squad deposited 16 kills on 30 attempts for a .300 hitting mark as the RedHawks managed just five digs in the final set. Anderson registered five of her match-high 13 kills in the frame while Kayland Jackson added four.

Anderson led the way for the WKU offense, racking up 13 kills. The senior worked at a .276 offensive clip while adding four blocks and a dig defensively.

Shelton and Isenbarger each added double-digit kills with 11 apiece. As a team, WKU registered a .287 hitting percentage while limiting the Redhawks to a .159 mark.

Defensively, Kowalkowski led the way with 16 digs and Payton Frederick also finished in double figures for the sixth time.

At the net, Anderson and Isenbarger led WKU with four blocks each.

With its first of two home pre-conference tournaments in the books, WKU will remain home next weekend with the WKU Tournament on deck for Sept. 14-15.