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THE HILLTOPPERS
West Liberty dropped its season opener on February 5 at the seven-time national champions and No. 1 ranked Baylor, 238.510 to 267.050 in Waco, Texas.

The Hilltoppers posted 9's in all three of the pyramid events with a 9.25 in the inversion, 9.20 in synchronized, and 9.15 in the open heats. They also scored 9's in the seven element acro (9.10) and had its highest score of the meet in the pyramid compulsory with a 9.35.

In the first team event of the season, WLU earned an 81.46 out of 101.00. West Liberty totaled 43.94 deductions in the season opener. 

Last season, the Hilltoppers rose to as high as No. 11 in the NCATA last season behind a 4-0 start, but suffered some injuries to key contributors before tying for second in the MEC regular season and bowing out of the MEC Tournament semifinals. West Liberty returns a pair of all-conference bases from 2022, including Paige McGlothlin, who earned second team, and reigning MEC Freshman of the Year Abbey Horvath.

THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS
Gannon opened its 2023 campaign with a 265,045 to 270.269 loss on the road at No. 6 Limestone on February 4. 

The Golden Knights scored 92.77 out of 107.22 in the team event and totaled 30.58 deductions in the season opener. Gannon posted 9's in 11 events with a meet-best 9.850 in the aerial pass event. The Golden Knights had a 9.65, 9.80, and 9.75 in the tosses winning the event by 1.4. They also won the compulsory event over Limestone, 37-36.85.

Last season, Gannon went 10-2 overall and earned a spot in the NCATA Championship Meet, where GU fell to Baylor. 

HOME OPENER HISTORY
West Liberty is 3-2 in its five home openers in program history, winning each of the last three. This will be the first non-conference home opener ever for WLU.

2018: Loss vs W.Va. Wesleyan (138.20 - 247.78)
2019: Loss vs Fairmont State (241.430 - 270.165)
2020: Win vs W.Va. Wesleyan (254.57 - 247.37)
2021: Win vs Davis & Elkins (255.720 - 244.355)
2022: Win vs W.Va. Wesleyan (235.450 - 234.050)

THE SERIES
Gannon has won all four meetings between the Golden Knights and Hilltoppers. The last meeting was a 269.170 - 245.300 victory for Gannon on its home mat on March 16, 2022. The Hilltoppers lost by 20 points in both the home meets all time (2021 and 2019). The Black and Gold average 242.670 points versus the Golden Knights.

UP NEXT
West Liberty will continue a three-meet homestand on Sunday with its conference opener against Glenville State at 2 pm inside the ASRC.

Follow the Hilltoppers all season long online at HilltopperSports.com, as well as on Twitter (@WLU_AcroTumb, @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_acrotumb, @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.