WKU Volleyball sees five players named to the Preseason All-Conference USA team as announced by the league office. Standout Alivia Skidmore earns the CUSA Preseason Player of the Year honor, with WKU projected to finish first in the conference by garnering nine out of ten first-place votes. Both Skidmore and fellow players Tayler Baron, Kaira Knox, Izzy Van De Wiele, and Faith Young have previously received notable accolades for their performances last season, positioning the team as a strong contender heading into the new campaign.

By the Numbers
  • WKU received 81 points in the preseason poll, taking 9 out of 10 possible first-place votes.
  • Skidmore led WKU with 369 kills, averaging 3.42 kills per set last season.
State of Play
  • The Hilltoppers have officially opened their 2026 season with a doubleheader against SEMO and No. 25 Oregon.
  • The preseason CUSA poll ranks WKU at the top, followed by Liberty in second with 67 points.
What's Next

As the season begins, the Hilltoppers will look to build on their preseason momentum and capitalize on their favorable ranking. Continuous performance from their standout players will be paramount in competing for the conference title and making a deeper postseason run.

Bottom Line

The recognition of five players as Preseason All-CUSA, particularly Skidmore as Player of the Year, underlines WKU's strong foothold in the conference and sets high expectations for their 2026 season.