WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The regionally-ranked West Liberty University volleyball team rolled to its 20^th win and took over sole possession of second place in the Mountain East Conference North Division here Tuesday with a convincing 3-0 sweep of Fairmont State inside the ASRC.
    After losing the first point of the opening set, Coach Riley Schenk's Hilltoppers (20-11, 11-4) reeled off the next three points and never trailed again for the rest of the night.
    Ranked No. 9 in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Region rankings, West Liberty handed the Falcons (20-9, 10-5) a 25-19 setback in the first set, won the second set by a 25-18 margin and coasted to a 25-21 nod in the final set.
    Maddie Clayton and Riley Cudnik formed a devastating 1-2 punch at the net for the Black and Gold. Cudnik put away a match-high 11 kills while Clayton chimed in with 9 kills and 4 blocks.
    Katelynn Fritz added 6 kills and 10 digs while Kirsten Bogunovich checked off a number of boxes with 23 assists and 3 service aces – both match-highs – to go along with 5 kills, 6 digs and a pair of blocks. Reigning MEC Defensive Player of the Week Nyia Setla led all players with 20 digs – her third consecutive 20-dig match.
    The Hilltoppers close out the regular season on the road Friday night when they travel to Wheeling for a showdown between the top two teams in the MEC North. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside the McDonough Center.