Hilltoppers fall to Drake in five sets
Published 6:01 pm Saturday, August 30, 2025
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Western Kentucky freshman Kaira Knox (5) spikes the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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2/20
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Western Kentucky sophomore Alivia Skidmore (17) spikes the ball past Drake senior Aniyah Davis (4) and junior Lisa Melenciano (13) in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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3/20
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Western Kentucky sophomore Tayler Baron (2) bumps the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
4/20
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Western Kentucky volleyball coach Travis Hudson shouts instructions from the sidelines in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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5/20
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Western Kentucky sophomore Faith Young (22) serves the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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6/20
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Western Kentucky senior Abby Schaefer (15) bumps the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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7/20
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Western Kentucky sophomore Faith Young (22) spikes the ball past Drake sophomore Bliss Beck (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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8/20
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Western Kentucky freshman Kaira Knox (5) and junior Gabby Weihe (10) block a spike by Drake senior Macy Daufeldt (5) in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
9/20
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Western Kentucky freshman Kaira Knox (5) spikes the ball past Drake senior Macy Daufeldt (5) in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
10/20
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Western Kentucky redshirt senior Callie Bauer (14) sets the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
11/20
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Western Kentucky sophomore Alivia Skidmore (17) spikes the ball over Drake senior Aniyah Davis (4) and junior Lisa Melenciano (13) in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
12/20
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The Hilltoppers celebrate a kill by Western Kentucky sophomore Alivia Skidmore (17) in their 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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13/20
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Western Kentucky redshirt senior Callie Bauer (14) serves the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
14/20
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Western Kentucky freshman Kaira Knox (5) spikes the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
15/20
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Western Kentucky sophomore Tayler Baron (2) bumps the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
16/20
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Western Kentucky sophomore Faith Young (22) spikes the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
17/20
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Western Kentucky volleyball coach Travis Hudson shouts instructions from the sidelines in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
18/20
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Western Kentucky freshman Kennedy Cherry (3) bumps the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
19/20
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Western Kentucky senior Abby Schaefer (15) bumps the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Drake Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
GRACE MCDOWELL / BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS
20/20
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Western Kentucky freshman Kaira Knox (5) tips the ball past Drake senior Macy Daufeldt (5) in the Hilltoppers’ 2-3 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 10-15) loss to the Bulldogs in the final match of the WKU Invitational at E. A. Diddle Arena on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. WKU finishes the weekend 2-1 after wins over Wright State and Loyola on Friday.
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Before the season began, WKU volleyball coach Travis Hudson said his team was one that could have big highs and some bumpy moments.
The first weekend proved to be just that with WKU falling 3-2 (25-11, 24-26, 25-18, 21-25, 15-10) to Drake in the final match of the WKU Invitational on Saturday at E.A. Diddle Arena.
After picking up a pair of 3-0 wins on Friday, WKU (2-1) couldn’t find enough consistency to put away a Drake team that had dropped its first two games in the tournament.
“We showed very much this weekend who we are,” Hudson said. “We are an incredibly exciting young team that can play at a high level. And we showed that we are a really young team that is going to be vulnerable learning those lessons.”
WKU controlled the first set, picking up where it left off with Friday’s two wins. The Hilltoppers hit. 611, never trailed and got seven kills from freshman Kaira Knox.
Drake (1-2) started the second second scoring the first three points and stretched that lead to 11-6. WKU was able to fight back with a 8-1 run to take the lead, but Drake would stay within striking distance and eventually surge back in front 20-18.
Three straight points by the Hilltoppers gave the lead back to WKU. The Hilltoppers had set point after a kill from Alivia Skidmore made the score 24-23, but Drake scored two points to force set point. WKU appeared to have extended the match when officials ruled a service error, but Drake challenged the play and it was reversed to an ace to tie the match 1-1.
Drake started the third set strong, building a 14-9 advantage, before WKU came roaring back. WKU scored six straight to take the lead and pulled away from there heading into the fourth set with a chance to win the match.
Drake led almost the entire way in set four. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-2 advantage and never allowed WKU the chance to pull even. The Hilltoppers got as close as one point three times before Drake was able to close it out and go to a fifth set for the third time this weekend.
Drake lost the previous two five-set matches in the tournament. The Bulldogs wouldn’t be denied on Saturday. A 5-0 spurt made the score 9-5 to give Drake the lead for good. WKU was unable to get closer than three points the rest of the way.
“They were a desperate team,” Hudson said. “Again, they are a really, really good team. We said this weekend all these teams could really play. When you look, almost every match in this tournament went five. Four really good teams in this tournament were going at it. I certainly think we are the most talented team of the four, but we are also the youngest.”
Knox capped a stellar opening weekend with 21 kills. The freshman finished the weekend with 46 in her first three games with WKU.
“It means so much to me, that my teammates have enough trust in me to give me the ball and trust me enough to put it away,” Knox said. “Also being in the gym with Travis and my teammates has meant so much to me. I’m just working hard and it’s really paying off.”
Skidmore added 14 kills, while Callie Bauer had 46 assists. WKU held Drake to a .173 hitting percentage, but finished with a .235 hitting percentage.
“Drake deserved to win the match,” Hudson said. “For them to fight like they fought. We showed who we are. You look at the first two sets we won, we won them like 18 and 11, then we came out in set two and the first 11 points that Drake scored were unforced errors by us. We fought like crazy to get back in that set and lose 26-24, but that’s got to be the thing that puts you ahead, not get you back in it.”
WKU was without junior middle hitter Izzy Van De Wiele, who turned her ankle in the first set of WKU’s first game against Wright State on Friday.
“Obviously that really hurt us when we needed to block some balls, but that’s the nature of the season,” Hudson said. “You have to move on to the next kid.”
WKU returns to action on Sept. 5 in the Marquette Tournament. The Hilltoppers will face No. 24 Dayton at 11 a.m. before facing host Marquette at 7 p.m.
About Micheal Compton
I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.
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