INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The regionally-ranked West Liberty University volleyball team will be the first team on the court this afternoon when the Mountain East Conference Tournament begins its three-day run at the Walker Convocation Center on the campus of West Virginia State University.
    Coach Riley Schenk's Hilltoppers (20-12), 10th in this week's NCAA Division II Atlantic Region rankings, take on Davis & Elkins (14-13) at noon in the first of four quarterfinal matches. This will be the second meeting of the season between WLU and the Senators. West Liberty swept a three-set match from D&E on Oct. 29 inside the ASRC by scores of 27-25, 25-15 and 25-14.
    Defending MEC Tournament champion Wheeling (24-5) and Frostburg State (9-19) are set for the 2:30 p.m. quarterfinal with the winner of that match advancing to play the West Liberty/Davis & Elkins winner in Friday's 7:30 p.m. semifinal.
    Tournament host West Virginia State (27-3) hits the court against Notre Dame (16-15) in tonight's 5 p.m. quarterfinal with Charleston (21-10) and Fairmont State (21-9) closing out the quarterfinals in a 7:30 p.m. match. Those winners will square off in Friday's first semifinal at 5 p.m.
    Friday's semifinal victors return to the court Saturday at 7 p.m. to play for the MEC Tournament championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional.
    Fans planning to attend any of the three days are encouraged to buy tickets in advance online, with each day costing $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children (5-18). Students with a valid ID will be admitted free. Fans are reminded that masks are mandatory inside all buildings on the West Virginia State campus.
    The Mountain East Conference will provide live video streams and live stats for all matches and will also live stream the post-match press conferences for all teams. All links may be accessed through the MEC's Tournament Central page.
      - MEC Tournament Tickets
    - MEC Tournament Central Page (live video, live stats, press conferences, etc.)
  Davis & Elkins (14-13) vs. WEST LIBERTY (20-12), Noon
Frostburg State (9-19) vs. Wheeling (24-5), 2:30 p.m.
Notre Dame (16-15) vs. W.Va. State (27-3), 5 p.m.
Charleston (21-10) vs. Fairmont State (21-9), 7:30 p.m. W.Va. State/Notre Dame winner vs. Charleston/Fairmont State winner, 5 pm
Davis & Elkins/WEST LIBERTY winner vs. Wheeling/Frostburg State winner, 7:30 pm Friday's winners, 7 p.m.