CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team dropped a 3-2 decision to the University of Charleston here Friday in Mountain East Conference action at the Wehrle Center.
    Momentum swung back and forth throughout the match with the Golden Eagles (14-7, 6-3) taking a 25-20 decision in the opening set only to see Coach Riley Schenk's Hilltoppers (14-11, 5-4) respond by gutting out a 28-26 win in the second set.
    Charleston put WLU's backs to the wall with a convincing 25-17 victory in the third set but the Black and Gold came up big again, handing UC a 25-22 setback in the fourth set to keep the match going.
    The teams traded points throughout the early part of the fifth set until Charleston reeled off three straight points to take an 8-5 lead. The Golden Eagles never took their foot off the gas, scoring 10 of the last 12 points to win going away.
    Maddie Clayton set the pace for West Liberty, putting away 17 kills and blocking 7 shots at the net. Kirsten Bogunovich made another run at a triple-double with 12 kills, 31 assists and 8 digs while Nina Billotto chimed in with 10 kills and a pair of blocks.
    Nyia Setla had a team-high 22 digs with Jenna Caskey and Kaitlynn Fritz added 17 and 15 digs, respectively. Laura Gamel added 20 assists and 6 digs in a losing cause.
    The Hilltoppers go back on the road Tuesday for a 7 p.m. match at Notre Dame (Ohio).