Jax State Battles Hilltoppers in Opening Set Before WKU Pulls Away

Friday, October 9

JACKSONVILLE

6 PM

Jax State

3-14,0-5CUSA

Western Kentucky

11-6,5-0CUSA

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Western Ky.	25	25	25	3
Jacksonville St.	21	11	13	0

Photo by: Emily Kish / Jax State

Jax State Battles Hilltoppers in Opening Set Before WKU Pulls Away

10/9/2026 7:48:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE – Jax State volleyball fell 3-0 to Western Kentucky on Friday evening at Pete Mathews Coliseum, dropping the opening match of the weekend series against the Hilltoppers.

Jax State kept the opening set competitive, putting together its strongest stretch of the match against a Western Kentucky team that entered the contest unbeaten in Conference USA play. The Gamecocks recorded seven kills in the opening frame and hit .200 offensively. However, WKU finished the set with 17 kills and a .394 hitting percentage to secure the 25-21 win.

The Hilltoppers carried that momentum into the second set, hitting .500 with 14 kills and only two errors. Jax State struggled to find the same rhythm offensively, recording seven kills while committing six errors as WKU claimed the set 25-11.

The Gamecocks improved their offensive production in the third set, matching WKU with nine kills. However, five attack errors and the Hilltoppers' .320 hitting percentage helped the visitors close out the match with a 25-13 set victory.

Sophia Schweikert led Jax State with eight kills, while Lauren Buchanan added five and Azavia Thomas contributed four. Sofia Varela finished with a team-leading 12 assists and eight digs, while Addison Stone recorded seven assists. Thomas and Taya Nordmann each added two blocks to lead the Gamecocks defensively.

Western Kentucky finished with 40 kills and a .402 hitting percentage, compared to Jax State's 23 kills and .122 mark. The Hilltoppers also had advantages in service aces, 11-2, and assists, 36-22.

Kaira Knox led WKU with nine kills, Kate Rush had 30 assists, Tayler Baron had 14 digs, Izzy Van De Wiele and Faith Young tallied three blocks, and Alivia Skidmore and Baron notched three aces.

Jax State will take on WKU again Saturday at 1 p.m. at Pete Mathews Coliseum.

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