Weekend Trip to the Bluegrass State Awaits Charleston Volleyball

Friday, September 8

Bowling Green, Ky.

2 PM

College of Charleston

Arkansas

Weekend Trip to the Bluegrass State Awaits Charleston Volleyball

9/7/2023 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball

09.08.23 WKU Invitational Tournament Central

WKU Invitational Tournament Central

CHARLESTON, S.C. – College of Charleston volleyball looks to keep the momentum rolling this weekend in Kentucky after sweeping through their last two opponents in George Washington and Charleston Southern. Charleston makes their second ever trip to the Bluegrass State and first since 2018 as they take on nationally-ranked Arkansas (#17 in this week's AVCA Poll), Troy and host Western Kentucky at the WKU Invitational.

Friday afternoon's match with the No. 17 Razorbacks is the first meeting with a ranked opponent since No. 1 Stanford came to TD Arena to open the 2019 season and 12th time the Cougars have faced a ranked opponent since 2005. The last trip to Kentucky also featured a ranked opponent in the host Kentucky Wildcats who were #16 at the time.

Charleston's stay at the WKU Invitational also marks the final three nonconference regular season matches on the slate. CAA play begins for the Cougars next weekend when they head to William & Mary.

Weekend Schedule
Charleston vs. #17 Arkansas | Friday, September 8 at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT
Charleston vs. Troy | Friday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. CT
Charleston at Western Kentucky | Saturday, September 9 at 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT

Video: None
Audio: WKU Radio (Saturday match only)
Live Stats: WKUsports.com
Cougars on Social Media: Twitter // Instagram

QUICK HITTERS

Charleston heads to Kentucky for just the second time in program history. Both times Charleston has gone to the Bluegrass State they've faced at least one ranked opponent (#16 Kentucky in 2018, #17 Arkansas Friday).
Friday's match with Arkansas is the 12th time Charleston will play a ranked opponent since the 2005 season. The last matchup with a ranked foe came in the 2019 season opener when No. 1 Stanford came to TD Arena for the CofC Classic.
Charleston has played two-or-fewer matches against all three weekend opponents in program history – once versus Troy (1990) and twice versus WKU (2015 & 2018).
The Cougars enter the weekend among the nation's best in a handful of statistical categories including total kills (383, 3rd), assists (341, 5th), digs (414, 14th) service aces (49, 21st) and kills per set (13.68, 46th).
Lexi Wierzbicki headlines the Charleston attack as she ranks 23rd in the NCAA in total points (108) and 32nd in kills (91).
Charleston has 25 wins over Power 5 competition since 1989 with 14 of those coming under head coach Jason Kepner. The Cougars have six wins over SEC opponents including Alabama (2) and South Carolina (4).
Both Anna Smith and Sopheea Mink grabbed their 400th career kills against Charleston Southern. Smith has the chance to reach 500 kills and 100 blocks this season while Mink can reach 500 kills and 200 blocks after collecting over 140 while at High Point.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

Arkansas enters the weekend 4-2 overall and plays their first match outside of Barnhill Arena when they face Charleston Friday. The Razorbacks enter the match ranked No. 17 in the nation with sweeps in three of their four wins – their only two losses coming against unanimous No. 1 Wisconsin. The two-headed attack of Jillian Gillen (4.55) and Taylor Head (4.09) sit among the Top-50 nationally in kills per set (19th and 42nd) while setter Hannah Hogue leads the SEC and ranks among the Top-30 in assists (241). Arkansas was picked to finish fifth in the SEC after reaching the NCAA Tournament second round last season.
Troy has yet to win a match this season (0-5) but has faced arguably one of the toughest schedules to this point taking on four Power 5 opponents (two ranked). Arkansas will be the third ranked foe the Trojans face in nonconference play along with No. 2 Louisville and No. 13 Washington State. Janelle Stuempfig is among the Top-75 nationally in assists per set (9.81) while Amiah Butler's 3.75 kills per set are good for No. 82 in the nation. Tori Hester was named Preseason All-Sun Belt after averaging 4.28 kills per set last season and the Trojans were picked to finish third in the highly-competitive Sun Belt west division.
Western Kentucky enters the weekend 4-3 overall with a ranked win on their resume already taking down then-No. 12 Marquette to open the season. The Hilltoppers are coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Penn State Invitational where they beat Colgate but fell to the host No. 12 Nittany Lions and James Madison, who is receiving votes in this week's poll. Callie Bauer ranks 23rd nationally in assists (245) and 44th in assists per set (10.21) while Paige Briggs leads Conference USA in service aces (10). Four Hilltoppers average at least 2 kills pet set headlined by Briggs' 3.30 and Kaylee Cox's 2.67. Western Kentucky was voted as the CUSA preseason favorite after they collected 20 wins for a 23rd-straight season in 2022 and have been ranked as high as No. 22 in the AVCA Coaches' Poll this season.