WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team swept a non-conference triangular from Alderson-Broaddus and Salem here Tuesday afternoon at the ASRC.
    Coach Kayla Mull's Hilltoppers (3-1) got rolling early with a 3-0 romp past A-B in the afternoon and followed that up with a 3-0 rout of Salem in the finale.
    In the first match, West Liberty took command early with a 9-0 run midway through the opening set and sprinted off to a 25-14 win. The Hilltoppers went on to close out the Battlers (0-2) by scores of 25-21 and 25-20 by dominating the net.
    West Liberty was dominant at the net throughout, finishing with 44 kills and 11.0 blocks compared to just 21 kills and 4.0 blocks for the Battlers (0-2). Raimey Benson led the way with a match-high 9 kills and 2 blocks while Madison Clayton chipped in with 8 kils and 5 blocks. Caitlin Clarke and Olivia Baumhoer also added 8 kills with Stephanie Leonard notching 7 kills and a match-high 6 blocks. Amanda Leonard contributed a match-high 27 assists and Morgan Farley paced the Hilltoppers with 10 digs.
    It was more of the same in the nightcap as WLU dominated the opening set by a 25-10 count, held off a late surge by the Tigers (1-2) for a 25-23 nod in the second set and ran away to another 25-10 win in the third set.
    With the Hilltoppers in control throughout, Mull was able to substitute early and often. Even so, Benson still led all players with a match-high 10 kills. Clarke backed her with 7 kills and tied Kailee Cunningham with a team-high 9 digs.
    Freshman Abbi Gillson had 6 kills in just two sets while Mackenzie Sims added 5 kills and a service ace while playing only the second set. Kendall Souder had a match-high 25 assists and Renee Lemke had 14.
    The Hilltoppers hit the road on Friday for the first round of the Quality Inn Invitational, hosted by Indiana (Pa.) University. West Liberty takes on IUP Friday at 2 p.m. followed by a 4:30 p.m. match against Roberts Wesleyan.