WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team clinched a spot in next week's Mountain East Conference Tournament on Saturday with a 3-0 sweep of West Virginia State on Senior Day at the ASRC.
Coach Kayla Fetsko-Mull's Hilltoppers (15-17, 8-8) also passed a significant milestone in the rebuilding process as it marked the first time in more than two decades that West Liberty finished a season at .500 or better in league play.
The Hilltoppers won a pair of West Virginia Conference titles and were a perennial volleyball power during the 1980s but hadn't broken even in conference action since 1993, when the Black and Gold posted a 5-5 mark in WVIAC play.
West Liberty stung the Yellow Jackets (8-18, 4-12) with a 25-10 romp in the opening set and never looked back, finishing off the match by scores of 25-19 and 25-16 in the final two sets.
Amanda Leonard had a big day with 6 kills, 20 assists, 12 digs and 4 blocks while senior Michaela Hawkins added 5 kills and 4 blocks in her final home match. The MEC Volleyball Tournament tips off Thursday at Wheeling Jesuit. Pairings should be announced on Sunday.
VOLLEYBALL
West Liberty 3, W.Va. State 0
(25-10, 25-19, 25-16)
Rebekah Baldwin 6-0-1; Samantha Scripter 4-0-1; Karee Vaughn 4-0-0; Mallory Rennard 3-0-1; Edwina Barnett 2-0-1; Sara Ferguson 1-0-0; Allison Tumey 1-1-2; Kendra Benson 1-0-1; Brooke Cieslewski 0-1-0; Totals 22-2-4.0.
Assists: Allison Tumey 16.
Digs: Brooke Cieslewski 16; Mallory Rennard 11; Samantha Scripter 10
WEST LIBERTY (15-17, 8-8)
