The Towel Rack: WKU Volleyball faces toughest test
It’s been a long time since the WKU volleyball and soccer teams took their respective arenas of play, but they’re back at it tonight, with huge implications on the line.
Soccer:
The Lady Tops welcome back the MTBR’s, this time for the first time as Conference USA opponents. The Ladies are still looking to get back to .500 in conference play, but are coming off their first ever conference home win, a 3-1 victory over UTSA last Sunday. The Raiders come into tonight with a 6-6-2 overall record and a 3-2-1 conference mark, and are on a two game winning streak, and a four game unbeatten streak, with their last loss coming to the Roadrunners. The MTBR’s also have only given up two goals in their last four games, both coming in a 2-2 tie against Southern Miss. The Lady Raiders also bring into WKU a sweep of this past week’s C-USA players of the week, with freshman Peyton McCollum the Offensive Player of the Week (and has scored in two consecutive games – her first two collegiate goals) and junior goalie Kelsey Brouwer the Defensive Player of the Week, after shutting out both FAU and FIU. Brouwer also was also recognized by College Sports Madness as the C-USA player of the week. It’ll be a challenge for the young Tops’ squad tonight, but hopefully the emotions will over-run inexperience and the Lady Tops can make it two in a row.
Volleyball:
Probably the event this weekend I’m looking most forward to – yes, even above the football game and Hilltopper Hysteria tomorrow, is down in Texas tonight, as after this match is played, there will only be one team left in C-USA who is undefeated in conference play. The Lady Tops’ come in with the better record of the two, but both teams have won their first seven conference games, and while the Tops have had to go to five sets (vs. Rice), the ‘Runners have won in, at most, four sets every match this conference season. The Lady Tops are hitting a C-USA best .306 since conference play has started, and have held opponents to a sub-.160 hitting percentage. WKU also brings into the match two of this week’s three C-USA players of the week, with Alyssa Cavanaugh winning Offensive POW, and Noelle Langenkamp winning Defensive POW. Coach Hudson has said after every match that nothing scares him with this team, and that’ll truly be put to the test tonight. UTSA was the lone representative in the NCAA tournament from the conference last year, and were picked to win it again this year, but WKU can put a hold on that with a big win tonight.
It’s an exciting night on the Hill, with a rivalry match and a match for first place. Check back later tonight, and on twitter, for final score updates from tonight.