WKU opens season going 1-2 at UNLV Invitational

It’s a young team and a small sample size, but the words of Travis Hudson are ringing true in the early going for the WKU volleyball team, who return from the UNLV Invitational with 1-2 record, splitting the first day of matches while falling in straight sets on the final day.

WKU swept UC Riverside, who won two games all of last year, and hit .400 as a team. Freshman Alyssa Cavanaugh made an impact in her first collegiate game, leading the team in 12 kills and senior Heather Boyan wasn’t far behind with 10 kills and posted a .629 hitting percentage. Another freshman, Jessica Lucas, was credited with 32 assists. In the post-Ashley Potts era, WKU seems to fine, as both Kaelin Grimes and, for now, new libero Georgia O’Connell finished with double-digit digs – the former with 10 and the latter setting a new career mark with 14.

In the second game on Friday, WKU hit only .130 against host UNLV, and lost in straight sets to the Rebels. Lucas handed out 32 assists again, and it was junior Haley Bodway who lead the team in kills with nine. Grimes set a career high in digs this time around, matching O’Connell’s 14, while Georgia finished with 11.

The Lady Tops would get swept again in the final match against Cal State Northridge, and were lead in kills by Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Noelle Langenkamp. Remember that career high in digs O’Connell posted to open the Invitational? Well, she eclipsed it in the loss, recording 18 of them to set yet another personal bet in her still young career.

The Lady Toppers will welcome in Belmont for their first home match of the season tomorrow and try to get back to even on the year.