Women's Volleyball | 10/19/2011 8:34:00 AM

ELKINS, W.Va. – The West Liberty University women's volleyball team put up quite a battle in dropping a 3-1 decision in a West Virginia Conference make-up match at Davis & Elkins on Tuesday night.
    Coach Brooke Turner's Hilltoppers (7-12, 3-6) put on a defensive clinic with 133 rally-extending digs but it wasn't enough to keep the host Senators (10-19, 3-5) from prevailing. The teams split 25-21 decisions in the first two games but D&E won the next two games by scores of 25-20 and 25-22 to take the match.
    Emily Mellie had 7 kills for West Liberty while Anne Edwards added 6 kills and 3 blocks. Haylee Strause led all players with 38 digs with solid defensive support from Jennifer Torrence (28), Melissa Pierzchala (20) and Alex Kowalski (15). Chelsea Byrge had a team-high 22 assists.
    The Hilltoppers swing right back into action on Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. match at Seton Hill.
 
VOLLEYBALL
Davis & Elkins 3, West Liberty 1
(25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22)
WEST LIBERTY (7-12, 3-6)
    Emily Mellie 7-0-0; Anne Edwards 6-0-3; Chelsea Byrge 4-0-0; Nicole Sadecky 4-0-0; Alex Kowalski 3-0-0; Melissa Pierzchala 3-0-0; Rachel Ziegler 3-0-0; Jennifer Torrence 2-0-0; Michaela Hawkins 1-0-1; Heather Tolson 1-0-0. Totals 34-0-3.0.
    Assists - Chelsea Byrge 22
    Digs - Haylee Strause 38, Jennifer Torrence 28, Melissa Pierzchala 20, Alex Kowalski 15
DAVIS & ELKINS (10-19, 3-5)
    Jana Lowe 17-3-2; Brandi Brown 13-0-4; Heather Zapf 8-0-1; Brittany Anderson 8-0-2; Nicole Miller 7-0-0; Alex Barnard 5-0-2; Lindsay Russo 4-1-1; Bre Tognoli 1-0-0; Kelsey Richards 0-2-0. Totals 63-6-10.0
    Assists - Jana Lowe 29, Bre Tognoli 21
    Digs - Meghan Emery 23