DALLAS - Delaware, Missouri State, Sam Houston and WKU wrapped up the first week of conference play undefeated. Week two features two unbeaten teams going head-to-head as WKU hosts Missouri State on Friday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. CT and Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. CT. 

LOOK AT THOSE FIGHTIN’ BLUE HENS  
Delaware starts CUSA play 2-0 after defeating Jax State at home. It’s the third time in five seasons that Delaware has begun conference play 2-0, also done in 2024 and 2022. The Blue Hens hit a season-best .378 on Saturday, marking its best since hitting .415 against Campbell during the 2024 season. Kennedi Inman led Delaware’s offense averaging 12.0 assists per set, dishing out a match-high 50 assists on Friday along with 16 digs. Her 50-assist match was her fourth of the season and she became the first Delaware player to have at least 50 assists in a four-set match since 2019.

SHE’S RILLIE RILLIE GOOD
The Bears were 0-3 against the Panthers coming into conference play but Mo State opened the 2026 CUSA campaign with back-to-back wins over FIU. Freshman setter Halle Rillie averaged 5.57 assists and 2.00 digs per set with five total kills on .571 hitting in the Bears’ weekend sweep of FIU. She helped set the offense to a .244 hitting percentage in the two matches, extending a streak of 11 consecutive matches at .200 or better, the program’s longest since 2017. 

BUTLER’S BLOCK PARTY 
Chelsea Butler matched her career-high in blocks with eight in the Bearkats 3-1 win over Kennesaw State on Saturday. Butler recorded 14 total blocks, averaging 1.75 blocks per set on the weekend as Sam Houston went undefeated during the first week of conference play. Her 14 blocks earned her CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors. 

TRIPLE PLATINUM  
WKU had a trio earn CUSA Player of the Week awards in Kaira Knox, Kate Rush and Eliza McKnight. All three student-athletes were instrumental in the Hilltoppers 2-0 weekend on the road at NM State, including a reverse sweep of the Aggies on Saturday. Knox put down 40 kills on a .378 hitting clip, Rush averaged 12.22 assists per set with a career-high 63 assists on Saturday and McKnight finished with 22 kills with an impressive .568 hitting percentage, compiling a clean sheet on Friday with 12 kills on 20 attempts and a .600 hitting mark.