Frostburg, Md. – The West Liberty University volleyball team fell victim to their first loss in Mountain East Conference play on Friday evening as they were defeated 3-1 on the road at Frostburg State. The Bobcats won with set scores of 15-25, 25-13, 25-21, and 25-23 as the Hilltoppers lost to FSU for the first time as MEC foes.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 1, Frostburg State 3
Team Records: West Liberty 14-5 (3-1 MEC), Frostburg State 9-9 (1-3 MEC)
Attendance: 175
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• A pair of kills by Leah Driscoll helped West Liberty gain control of the opening set with an early 9-4 lead. After taking four of the next seven points, a 5-0 scoring run with kills by Driscoll, Page Gross, and Grace Hill pushed the Hilltopper lead to double digits at 18-7. Three consecutive points from Frostburg State momentarily cut the WLU lead to eight, however the Black & Gold closed the set out with Driscoll's fifth kill of the frame to secure the 25-15 win.
• Opposite of the first set, Frostburg State gained the early momentum in set two with an 8-2 scoring run to open the frame. A kill by Katelynn Fritz and block by Gross cut the deficit to four points on two occasions, however the Bobcats extended their lead to 17-8 with a 6-2 run. A mini 3-0 scoring run for WLU with kills by Liv McAtee and Dakoda Keni, as well as an ace by Bella Dart, attempted to swing the momentum but FSU took eight of the final ten points to take the set win.
• A service ace from Keni and a pair of kills by McAtee pushed West Liberty to the early 6-2 advantage in set three, however a 4-0 scoring run by Frostburg State quickly knotted it back up at six apiece. The teams went back-and-forth before it looked as if the Hilltoppers were starting to take control with a 5-0 scoring run to take a 17-13 lead off a pair of kills from both McAtee and Fritz, as well as a block by Hill and McAtee. The Bobcats regrouped and ended the set on a 12-4 scoring run, taking the final six points of the frame to earn the set win.
• After falling behind 2-0 to open the fourth set, West Liberty responded with five straight points to take the early 5-2 advantage. The Bobcats then went on a 7-1 scoring run to regain the 9-6 lead before Hilltoppers once again strung together five consecutive points, powered by three kills from Ashley Cudnik, to take the lead back at 11-9. The teams continued to go back-and-forth before the Black & gold looked to be on their way to forcing set five after a 4-1 scoring run pushed their lead to 20-17. Frostburg, however, swung the momentum with a 4-0 rally to start an 8-3 scoring run to close the match.
• The Bobcats held the advantage in the match with a .182 attack percentage compared to .091 for West Liberty. The Bobcats also held the edge in points (62-58) and blocks (11-5) while the Hilltoppers held the advantage in kills (46-45), aces (7-6), and digs (82-76). The teams were even with 43 assists apiece.
• After failing to reach double digit digs for the first time all season, Nyia Setla recorded her ninth 20+ dig game of the season with 25 against the Bobcats.
• McAtee led the Hilltoppers with her 14 kills on the night, her fifth double digit kill performance of the season, and only one shy of her career-high which she reached twice already this year.
• Fritz reached double digit kills for the seventh time this season and 14^th time this year. Her 16 digs was the tenth time she has reached double digit digs, and marked the tenth double-double of the season.
• Keni has had double digit assists in all 19 matches this season and recorded 30 or more in ten matches after posting 36 in tonight's game.
• With four total blocks in the match, Hill has recorded four or more blocks in eight games this season.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Liv McAtee: 14 kills, .184 attack percentage, 1 dig, 1 block
Katelynn Fritz: 16 digs, 10 kills, .147 attack percentage, 1 service ace
Dakoda Keni: 36 assists, 16 digs, 2 service aces, 2 kills
Nyia Setla: 25 digs, 7 assists
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will return to the hilltop for a critical MEC match on Tuesday evening when they host Wheeling at 7 p.m. in the ASRC. The winner between the Hilltoppers and Cardinals will put themselves in the driver's seat of the MEC North Division standings as they are currently tied for first with identical 3-1 conference records.