WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team jumped out to an early lead but couldn't hold on as defending Mountain East Conference champion Wheeling rallied for a 3-2 win Tuesday night inside the ASRC.
    Coach Riley Schenk's Hilltoppers (11-10, 2-3) came out with all guns blazing, blitzing the Cardinals (14-4, 5-0) by a 25-16 count in the opening set and cruising to a 25-22 decision in the second set. Wheeling stayed alive with wins in the next two sets, 25-16 and 25-13, to force a fifth and deciding set.
    West Liberty stormed back from an early deficit to take a 13-11 lead but couldn't get over the hump. The visiting Cardinals forged a 13-13 tie and then survived two match points before a pair of WLU attack errors and a service ace gave Wheeling the 17-15 win.
    Kirsten Bogunovich made a run at a quadruple-double with 15 kills and 29 assists - both team-highs - to go along with 9 digs and 7 blocks. Maddie Clayton was a major force at the net with 13 kills and a career-high 12 blocks while hitting at a .333 clip while Riley Cudnik added 11 kills.
    Katelynn Fritz and Nyia Setla had 28 and 18 digs, respectively, and Laura Gamel added 23 assists.
    The West Liberty women head to Glenville State on Friday for a 6 p.m. match at the Waco Center.