South Euclid, Ohio – The West Liberty University volleyball team recorded the season sweep of Notre Dame on Tuesday night in Murphy Gymnasium, downing the Falcons 3-1. The Hilltoppers secured their best record through the first ten matches of Mountain East Conference play in program history as they won with set scores of 25-16, 21-25, 25-20, and 27-25. With a record of 8-2 in conference play, the Black & Gold had previously posted records of 7-3 in 2018 and 2021. The win also marks the best start to a season through 25 matches in program history, as they are one game ahead of the 2018 team that went 18-7 to start the year.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 3, Notre Dame 1
Team Records: West Liberty 19-6 (8-2 MEC), Notre Dame 6-13 (4-6 MEC)
Attendance: 160
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a Notre Dame kill secured the first point of the match, West Liberty took the next five points off four NDC attack errors. The teams then traded the next five points before a kill from Leah Driscoll started a 7-0 scoring run to push the lead to ten at 14-4. A 7-1 run momentarily cut the Hilltopper lead to four points at 15-11 before the Black & Gold pushed the frame out of reach with a 7-1 scoring run of their own, capped by a double block by Driscoll and Grace Hill. Notre Dame took four of the next six points in an attempt to make one last push, but Liv McAtee secured set point at 25-16 with a kill.
• While a kill by Katelynn Fritz and a solo block by Hill gave West Liberty the early 2-1 advantage, a 5-0 Notre Dame scoring run swung the momentum in favor of the home team. The teams went back-and-forth, trading the next ten points before a pair of kills from Driscoll led a 4-0 rally to tie the set at 11 apiece. The Hilltoppers tied the match four more times before a kill from Fritz gave the Black & Gold their first lead of the frame at 18-17. West Liberty led by as many as three points late in the set, but the Falcons ended the frame on a 8-1 scoring run to tie the match at one set apiece with a 25-21 win.
• Notre Dame jumped out to a narrow 5-4 lead in set three before West Liberty outscored the Falcons 8-4 to gain a 12-9 advantage. The Falcons momentarily tied the set at 12 apiece before Hilltoppers regained the lead for good with a 4-1 scoring run in which McAtee put down a pair of kills. NDC got as close as one point on two different occasions, however West Liberty secured the frame by taking six of the final eight points and secured the set point on a kill by Driscoll to win 25-20.
• Notre Dame once again grabbed the momentum out of the gates in set four with an 8-3 lead, however West Liberty quickly regrouped and strung together a 6-1 rally powered by a pair of kills from Page Gross to tie the score at nine apiece. The Falcons responded with four consecutive points to take a 13-9 advantage, but a 9-2 scoring run gave the Black & Gold the lead for the first time in the frame. The teams then went back-and-forth the next six points before Notre Dame regained a one point lead with a 6-2 scoring run, giving them a serve for set point at 24-23. The Hilltoppers fought off a pair of Falcon set points on kills by McAtee and Driscoll, followed by a double block by Gross and Dakoda Keni to give WLU match point. West Liberty won set four 27-25 on a Notre Dame attack error, securing a 3-1 win on the road.
• West Liberty held the advantage in the match with a .214 attack percentage compared to .120 for Notre Dame. The Hilltoppers also held the edge in points (70-67), aces (8-5), blocks (13-10), and digs (77-71) while the Falcons held the advantage in kills (52-49) and assists (48-47).
• With 17 kills and 17 digs, Fritz secured her 12^th double-double of the season while Keni posted her ninth and third consecutive double-double with 40 assists and 13 digs. Keni also notched her fourth game of the season with 40 or more assists.
• Driscoll recorded her third straight double figure kill match and 12^th of the season with 13 in the win.
• Nyia Setla collected her tenth match of the year with 20 or more digs, having 25 against the Falcons.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Katelynn Fritz: 17 kills, .256 attack percentage, 17 digs, 2 aces
Leah Driscoll: 13 kills, .186 attack percentage, 6 digs, 4 blocks
Liv McAtee: 12 kills, .222 attack percentage, 5 digs, 3 blocks
Dakoda Keni: 40 assists, 13 digs, 2 kills, 1 block, 1 ace
Nyia Setla: 25 digs, 3 assists
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will return to the hilltop on Friday evening as they celebrate three athletes on Senior Night when they face West Virginia State. The Hilltoppers and Yellow Jackets are set for a 7 p.m. first serve in the friendly confines of the ASRC.