After a tough early season schedule had them play seven road games in two weeks, the Lady Toppers finally get their first chance to play in Diddle Arena this weekend.
But Western will be playing without its only member of the preseason all-Sun Belt Conference team, senior outside hitter Aquila Orr.
Orr hurt her knee in Saturday’s loss to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is out for the season with a torn meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament.
Senior outside hitter Abbie Siljendahl said she was shocked when Orr went down.
“As a senior myself, I hurt for her,” Siljendahl said. “I think we handled it pretty well, though.”
As a result of Orr’s injury, Hudson used his backup plan in the final two games of last weekend’s tournament at IUPUI, and he said the adjustment went better than expected.
Hudson moved Teegarden from the right side to the left side and moved Siljendahl to Teegarden’s previous position at the right side.
The team won its games against both Miami (OH) and Northwestern while playing without Orr last weekend.
Western (4-3) looks ahead this weekend to a tournament of their own after playing consecutive weekend tournaments in Tennessee and Indiana.
The Toppers host Memphis (0-7), Tennessee State (1-6) and Northern Illinois (4-4) in the WKU Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
“It is such a boost playing at home in front of your fans and sleeping in your own beds,” head coach Travis Hudson said. “There is no wear and tear (like) with traveling.”
Though the team will play its first home match of the season after two weeks on the road, Hudson said he views the event no differently than any other matches.
“A match is a match no matter who we play or where we play,” he said.
Junior outside hitter Emily Teegarden said she also feels like the team should be successful no matter their location.
“We have to play the best we can wherever we go,” she said.
Though none of the teams coming to Western this weekend have a winning record, Hudson said he believes his team will be challenged in each game.
He said he believes NIU will be the toughest test because of the team’s outside hitters, sophomore Allison McGlaughlin and senior Meagan Schoenrock. Both were 2008 all-Mid-American Conference selections.
But Hudson said he’s just focusing on improving his own team.
“Our opponent is not the issue right now,” Hudson said. “Our side is our concern.”
Teegarden said the team hopes to attract bigger crowds this year because the players have spent time around campus promoting their home matches.
The Lady Toppers attended freshman orientations in an effort to entice new students to come to the games.
“We are excited to be playing at home finally, and we expect bigger crowds this year,” Siljendahl said.
Western begins the tournament by facing Tennessee State at 2 p.m. on Friday in Diddle Arena.
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