WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team continued its climb up the Mountain East Conference's North Division ladder here Friday night with an impressive 3-0 sweep of Davis & Elkins inside the ASRC.
    It was the fifth win in the last six matches for Coach Riley Schenk's resurgent Hilltoppers (16-11, 7-4), boosting the Black and Gold into a tie with Fairmont State for second place in the MEC North. The Senators (12-10, 9-2) fell out of a tie for first place in the MEC South with just their second loss in 11 league matches.
    After a hard-fought opening set which saw West Liberty pull out a marathon 27-25 win, the Hilltoppers shifted into overdrive. The hosts took total control with a 25-14 victory in the second set before finishing off the sweep by a 25-15 margin.
    Maddie Clayton had another dominant night at the net with 9 kills, 7 blocks and 3 service aces while Nina Billotto added 7 kills and 5 blocks with a sterling .667 hitting percentage.
    Riley Cudnik also checked in with 7 kills and 5 blocks for the hosts while Kirsten Bogunovich added 17 assists, 5 digs, 3 blocks and two more service aces as WLU posted an 11-1 edge in service aces on the night.
    West Liberty returns to the ASRC on Saturday morning for an 11 a.m. Senior Day match against West Virginia Wesleyan.