WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team handed West Virginia State its first Mountain East Conference loss of the season here Tuesday night, outlasting the MEC South Division leaders in a 3-2 thriller at the ASRC.
    Coach Riley Schenk's Hilltoppers (14-10, 5-3) stumbled out of the gate as the Yellow Jackets (18-3, 7-1) - who hadn't lost a single set in their seven previous league matches - breezed to a 25-13 win in the opening set.
    West Liberty stung the visitors with back-to-back marathon wins of 27-25 and 26-24 to take a 2-1 lead but West Virginia State kept its hopes alive with a 25-15 win in the fourth set.
    The Hilltoppers took control early in the fifth and final set, however, sprinting out to a 14-7 lead and holding off a late Yellow Jacket surge for a 15-12 victory.
    Reigning MEC Offensive Player of the Week Kirsten Bogunovich led the way, falling just short of a triple-double with 17 kills, 35 assists and 9 digs. Maddie Clayton added 13 kills and 7 blocks, Katelynn Fritz had a double-double with 10 kills and 19 digs and Riley Cudnik also charted double-figure kills with 10 finishes to go along with 4 blocks.
    Nyia Setla led all players with 31 digs and Haley Zeck contributed 18 assists.
    The West Liberty women hit the road on Friday for a 7 p.m. match at the University of Charleston.