WKU Volleyball opens home season versus Belmont

The Lady Toppers volleyball squad will look to get back to .500 after going 1-2 in their season opening UNLV Invitational tournament over the weekend, as Travis Hudson and the rest of WKU volleyball welcome in the Belmont Bruins from just down I-65 in Nashville.

Belmont, who was picked to finish third in the OVC this year, also have opened the year 1-2 after winning just one of their three matches in the Belmont Invitational – a five set shootout with Evansville. The Bruins dropped contests to Kennesaw State and Youngstown State (not a bad weekend for the Penguins, was it?). After opening the season at home, the Bruins will play just five matches at Belmont in the month of September, and have just one home non-conference match (Sept. 13 vs. Washington State) before conference play begins.

The Bruins are also under a new regime, as Tony Howell is in his first year at the helm. Howell spent eight years with the program as head assistant coach.

Statistical leaders after the opening tournament for the Bruins include freshmen Emma Price, who leads the team with 71 assists (7.9 per set), and Ellie Invancich leads the way in digs with 48. Jocelyn Youngdahl has 10 blocks coming into the evening and senior Scarlet Gable is the Bruin finisher, coming in with 25 kills.

The young Hilltoppers side now has a handful of games under their belt with the five freshman, and should come out with a bit more ferocity in the first home match of the year (and of some careers). The key performer tonight will be Georgia O’Connell (who I expect to retain the title of libero), coming off setting a career high twice and being named to the UNLV Invitational All-Tournament team.

First serve is set for 7 p.m. live from Diddle Arena. If you can’t make it to Grand Ol’ E.A., or even if you’ll be there, follow us on twitter @WavetheRedTowel for live in-game updates tonight.