ELKINS, W.Va. - The West Liberty University volleyball team began its weekend road trip with a hard-fought, five-set victory over Davis & Elkins tonight inside the McDonnell Center.

It was a back-and-forth battle all night that featured two extra-point sets. The Hilltoppers came back from an opening loss to win sets two, three, and five becoming the first team to take down the Senators in their home gymnasium this season. 

After Davis & Elkins edged out West Liberty in the first set, 25-23, the Hilltoppers knotted things up with a 25-22 win in the second scoring five of the final six points.

The competitiveness continued in the third set and it went down to wire yet again. West Liberty quieted the home crowd with a fend off of set point and three consecutive scores to take the 2-1 set lead (26-24).

The Black and Gold had a pair of match points denied by D&E in the fourth set and the Senators forced the tiebreak with a 27-25 comeback, winning eight of the final 10 rallies.

West Liberty bounced right back storming out to a 5-0 lead to start the fifth set and never looked back. The Hilltoppers held the Senators to a zero hitting percentage in the final set on way to a 15-10 win to clinch the victory.

Kirsten Bogunovich posted yet another double-double making it four straight games with one. Tonight's featured 11 kills and 21 assists, she just missed out on the triple-double with eight digs and also tied a match-high five blocks with Ruby Countryman.

Riley Cudnik paced a balanced attack that included four Hilltoppers in double digits, with 14 kills. Nina Billotto added 12, while Countryman matched Bogunovich's 11.

Haley Zeck also recorded a double-double with a match-high 24 assists and 10 digs. Kaija Sydlowski led the back line with 19 digs.

West Liberty continues its MEC-South road trip tomorrow with a stop at West Virginia Wesleyan. First serve is scheduled for 11 am.

Follow the Hilltoppers all season online at HilltopperSports.com as well as on Twitter (@WLU_Volleyball | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_volleyball | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.