WKU Volleyball extended its remarkable winning streak to 24 matches by capturing the Conference USA (CUSA) Tournament Championship on Sunday at UTEP’s Memorial Gymnasium. The Hilltoppers defeated No. 3-seed New Mexico State 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-21) to improve their season record to 28-6 and secure their 17th NCAA Tournament berth in program history.
The victory continues WKU’s dominance in CUSA, where the program has claimed 19 of 22 possible championships (11 regular season and nine tournament). This marks WKU’s sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and 10th in the last 11 seasons.
Standout Performances
CUSA Player of the Year and Tournament MVP Kaylee Cox led the charge with a stellar 23 kills and 12 digs. Freshman Alivia Skidmore added 14 kills, while Izzy Van De Wiele and Faith Young contributed nine and eight kills, respectively. Callie Bauer, Kenadee Coyle, and Van De Wiele joined Cox on the All-Tournament Team, highlighting the depth and talent of this Hilltoppers squad.
Match Recap
Set 1 (21-25): WKU faced an 8-0 deficit to start but rallied behind Kaylee Cox’s five kills to close the gap. Despite hitting .300, the Hilltoppers dropped the set as New Mexico State’s defense tallied four blocks.
Set 2 (25-18): WKU rebounded with a strong performance, limiting the Aggies to a .040 hitting percentage. Cox added seven kills, and junior libero Abby Schaefer surpassed 10 digs in the set.
Set 3 (25-19): A balanced offensive effort, led by Van De Wiele and a reinvigorated defense, turned the tide. The Hilltoppers recorded four blocks in the set, with Skidmore, Van De Wiele, and Young contributing defensively.
Set 4 (25-21): With the championship within reach, WKU posted a match-best .333 hitting percentage. Skidmore and Cox each delivered seven kills, while the Aggies struggled with errors, committing eight in the final set.
Program Milestones
WKU has now won 24 consecutive matches after a 4-6 season start.
The Hilltoppers boast 92 straight CUSA regular-season wins and remain unbeaten in their last 40 CUSA matches, including postseason play.
Head coach Travis Hudson has led WKU to 34 conference titles (20 regular season, 14 tournament) over his 30-season career and has amassed 780 career victories.
The Hilltoppers are 27-2 all-time in the CUSA Tournament.
Looking Ahead
WKU’s NCAA Tournament journey will be revealed during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, December 1, at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans are encouraged to join the Hilltoppers in celebrating their continued success as they prepare for the national stage.
