Bowling Green, Kentucky, October 20, 2025
News Summary
Western Kentucky University is proud to announce that three of its volleyball players have received Conference USA honors for their outstanding performances. Alivia Skidmore was named Offensive Player of the Week, Tayler Baron earned Defensive Player of the Week, and Callie Bauer was recognized as Setter of the Week. This achievement coincides with the Hilltoppers’ 100th consecutive regular season conference match win, highlighting the team’s exceptional season as they prepare for their upcoming matches against UTEP.
Bowling Green, Kentucky – In a remarkable achievement, Western Kentucky University (WKU) is celebrating a significant milestone as three of its players received Conference USA honors in Week Eight. The announcement marks an impressive week for the Hilltoppers volleyball team, who also achieved their 100th consecutive regular season conference match win.
WKU outside hitter Alivia Skidmore was recognized as the Offensive Player of the Week, while libero Tayler Baron earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. Additionally, setter Callie Bauer claimed the Setter of the Week award, highlighting her crucial role in leading the team to its latest victory.
Over the weekend, Bauer showcased her skill by recording a total of 96 assists, averaging 12.00 assists per set across eight sets. She also contributed seven kills, two blocks (one being a solo block), and one service ace. Bauer is currently ranked second in Conference USA with an average of 9.56 assists per set and has amassed a total of 631 assists this season. Under her leadership, WKU boasts the best hitting percentage in the conference at .304, being the only team above .300, and leads in kills with an average of 14.47 per set. This achievement marks Bauer’s third consecutive Setter of the Week award and her fifth within eight weeks of conference play.
On the defensive side, Tayler Baron claimed her first Defensive Player of the Week award after averaging 5.25 digs per set over the weekend. Baron totaled 42 digs and seven assists, delivering two impressive performances with over 20 digs, registering 20 digs on Friday and 22 digs on Saturday. In Conference USA, she ranks fifth in digs per set (3.73) and sixth in total digs with 250.
Meanwhile, Alivia Skidmore’s Offensive Player of the Week acknowledgment is WKU’s first offensive selection of the season. Skidmore enjoyed a prolific weekend, scoring a total of 35 kills, including a career-high 20 kills against Sam Houston on Friday. She recorded a hitting percentage of .406 overall, with a match-best percentage of .425 on Friday. Alongside her offensive performance, Skidmore contributed three blocks and 11 digs to the team. She currently ranks fifth in kills per set at 3.51 and eighth with a total of 259 kills this season.
The WKU Hilltoppers will look to continue their winning streak as they prepare for their next conference matches against UTEP on October 24-25 at Diddle Arena. The opening match is set to kick off at 6 p.m. CT on October 24. With an overall record of 17 wins and 4 losses and a perfect conference record of 8 wins and 0 losses, the Hilltoppers are in an impressive position this season, while Sam Houston holds a record of 8 wins and 13 losses, with a conference record of 0 wins and 8 losses.
FAQ
Who were the WKU players recognized by Conference USA in Week Eight?
Outside hitter Alivia Skidmore earned Offensive Player of the Week, libero Tayler Baron received Defensive Player of the Week honors, and setter Callie Bauer was named Setter of the Week.
What achievement did Callie Bauer help WKU achieve?
Bauer led WKU to its 100th consecutive regular season conference match win.
What were Callie Bauer’s stats over the weekend?
Bauer recorded 96 assists over the weekend, averaging 12.00 assists per set, seven kills, two blocks (including one solo block), and one service ace across eight sets.
How does Callie Bauer rank in Conference USA?
Bauer is ranked second in Conference USA in assists per set at 9.56 and second in total assists with 631.
What was Tayler Baron’s performance over the weekend?
Baron averaged 5.25 digs per set over eight sets, totaling 42 digs and seven assists, with two 20+ dig performances.
How did Alivia Skidmore perform over the weekend?
Skidmore had a total of 35 kills over the weekend, including a career-high of 20 kills on Friday against Sam Houston, with a hitting percentage of .406 overall.
When are WKU’s next conference matches?
The next conference matches are against UTEP on October 24-25 at Diddle Arena, with the first serve on October 24 scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
Key Features
| Player | Award | Key Stats | Conference Rankings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alivia Skidmore | Offensive Player of the Week | 35 kills, .406 hitting percentage | 5th in kills per set |
| Tayler Baron | Defensive Player of the Week | 42 digs, 5.25 digs per set | 5th in digs per set |
| Callie Bauer | Setter of the Week | 96 assists, 12.00 assists per set | 2nd in assists per set |
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Additional Resources
- WKU Sports: Hilltoppers Earn Three CUSA Players of the Week
- Wikipedia: Western Kentucky University
- WKU Sports: WKU Sweeps Weekend Series Against Bearkats
- Google Search: WKU Volleyball
- WKU Sports: WKU Closes Out the Weekend with Sweep of the Bulldogs
- Google Scholar: Volleyball Statistics
- WKU Sports: Hilltoppers Receiving Votes in Latest AVCA Taraflex Poll
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Volleyball
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