WKU takes home the 2024 CUSA Championship title for the ninth time in program history as the Hilltoppers defeated New Mexico Stat 3-1 at Memorial Gym on the campus of UTEP.
Source: Conference USA
Photo: Courtesy
EL PASO, TEXAS – WKU takes home the 2024 CUSA Championship title for the ninth time in program history as the Hilltoppers defeated New Mexico Stat 3-1 at Memorial Gym on the campus of UTEP.
With the victory, the Hilltoppers extend their winning streak to 24 matches and clinched an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.
CUSA Player of the Year Kaylee Cox was named Tournament MVP after playing a pivotal role in the Hilltoppers offense, collecting a double-double with 23 kills and 16 kills on a .326 hitting clip. Freshman middle blocker Izzy Van De Wiele earned her first All-Tournament team honor after recording a total of 36 kills and 14 blocks over three matches. Callie Bauer earned her second All-Tournament honor after dishing out an impressive 52 assists and added seven digs in the final. Senior right side hitter Kenadee Coyle was also named to the All-Tournament team.
NM State’s Mari Sharp was selected to the CUSA All-Tournament Team for the second consecutive year after posting 55 kills and 26 digs over three matches. In the final, Sharp recorded 12 kills and seven digs. Yasso Amin tallied nine kills, three digs and two blocks against WKU enroute to earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Fifth year senior Darian Markham earned her first CUSA All-Tournament Team honor after being a phenomenal defensive player for the Aggies collecting a total of 56 digs for 4.31 digs per set throughout the CUSA Volleyball Tournament.
The 2024 NCAA Division 1 Selection Show is on Sunday, December 1, at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on ESPN, where WKU will learn who they will face in the first round as part of the 64-team field. The first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament will be played December 5-7, at campus sites.
2024 CUSA All-Tournament Team
Kaylee Cox, WKU – MVP
Callie Bauer, WKU
Kenadee Coyle, WKU
Izzy Van De Wiele, WKU
Yasso Amin, NM State
Darian Markham, NM State
Mari Sharp, NM State
2024 CUSA Volleyball Championship
November 22-24, 2024 – El Paso, Texas (Hosted by UTEP)
Friday, November 22 – Quarterfinals
Match 1: (1) WKU 3, (8) FIU 1
Match 2: (4) Kennesaw State 3, (5) MTSU 2
Match 3: (2) UTEP 3, (7) Liberty 0
Match 4: (3) NM State 3, (6) Sam Houston 1
Saturday, November 23 – Semifinals
Match 5: (1) WKU 3, (4) Kennesaw State 0
Match 6: (3) NM State 3, (2) UTEP 2
Sunday, November 24 – Championship Final
Match 7: (1) WKU 3, (3) NM State 1