LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The two best teams in Conference USA are set to square off twice in the Pan American Center this weekend. Western Kentucky is gearing up to visit Las Cruces for a pair of matches on Friday and Saturday. Boasting a 16-4 overall and perfect 6-0 CUSA record, the Hilltoppers are currently receiving votes in the latest AVCA Poll. The last time Western Kentucky lost a CUSA regular-season match was Oct. 19, 2018 against North Texas. The nearly-five-year, 64-match streak is easily the longest conference winning streak in the country.
Match 1 - Friday, Oct. 13 at 6:00 PM MT
Match 2 - Saturday, Oct. 14 at 12:00 PM MT
NM State is looking to continue their momentum from Sunday, when the Aggies took down Liberty in four sets. The win marked the third road conference win of the season, and was a solid response after a Saturday loss. Earlier in the week, NM State split another series with UTEP, taking the second match of the homestand in five sets. Mike Jordan has his squad at second in the CUSA standings at 6-2, and 13-6 overall.
Scouting the Hilltoppers
WKU is under the direction of Head Coach Travis Hudson in his 29th season. Hudson has amassed a record of 738-226 in his time in Bowling Green, Ky. As one of just 10 coaches with a longer tenure at a single institution than Mike Jordan, Hudson has built WKU Volleyball into a national brand. The Hilltoppers have made 14 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Second Round each of their last five trips, and making the Sweet 16 in Spring 2021.
Fifth-year senior Paige Briggs has started in all of her 19 appearances for WKU and is the unquestioned leader of the offense. Briggs is the only player to already be named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week twice in 2023. She leads the Hilltoppers in nearly every offensive category with 268 kills (4.06 per set), a .333 hitting percentage, and 319.5 points. Briggs adds value on the defensive end as well, averaging 2.35 digs per set and 0.44 blocks per set.
Two other Hilltoppers have won CUSA weekly honors; Callie Bauer and Gabby Weihe. Bauer was named Setter of the Week, and leads the team with 10.34 assists per set. Weihe is a two-time Freshman of the Week in the conference and has started 19 times in as many appearances in her first year with WKU. Weihe is already top-five on the team in kills per set (1.50), blocks per set (0.67), and points per set (1.89).
As a team, WKU leads CUSA in hitting percentage (.296), kills (947), kills per set (13.53), assists (889), assists per set (12.70), points (1246.5) and points per set (17.81). They rank second in opponent hitting percentage (.176), just behind NM State (.175). Their 6-0 conference record remains the last unbeaten mark in the conference.
How to Follow
Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+, and available to follow via Stat Broadcast. Those links can be found at nmstatesports.com
For complete coverage of NM State Volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateVBall), Instagram (@NMStateVBall) and like us on Facebook (NM State Volleyball). You can also follow along with Aggie Volleyball via NMStateSports.com.
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