Women's Volleyball | 2/16/2021 9:56:00 PM

Box Score     WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team won its fourth straight match Tuesday night, dominating the fifth set in a 3-2 revenge win against Notre Dame (Ohio) inside the ASRC.
    Coach Riley Schenk's Hilltoppers (4-1) prevailed by scores of 25-19, 25-27, 25-16, 22-25 and 15-5 to move into a tie with Fairmont State for first place in the MEC North Division standings. Fairmont handed Wheeling its first loss on Tuesday.
    The Black and Gold had dropped a 3-2 decision at Notre Dame in a mutual season opener but it was a different story on Tuesday. After battling to a 2-2 tie through the first four sets, West Liberty wasted little time taking control of the decisive fifth set.
    Notre Dame (1-3) scored the first point only to see the Hilltoppers reel off the next four, forcing a Falcon timeout. It didn't help. The visitors scored two of the next three points to close the gap to 5-3 but WLU reeled off the next eight points to put the set - and the match - on ice at 13-3.
    Freshman Kaija Sydlowski posted an impressive double-double with 18 kills and 16 sets while senior Madison Clayton and sophomore Nina Billotto hammered home 16 kills each with Billotto hitting at a blistering .538 clip.
    Versatile sophomore Kirsten Bogunovich once more stuffed the stat sheet with 32 assists, 8 kills and 7 digs to go along with Emily Reedy's 8 kills and 21 digs.
    Senior Renee Lemke, who was on serve during that 8-0 fifth set run, also charted a double-double with 32 assists and 13 digs and freshman libero Nyia Setla delivered 30 digs in the hard-fought win.
    The Hilltoppers face a big test on Friday when they make the short drive down Route 88 to take on Ohio County rival Wheeling. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the McDonough Center.