Ashland, Ohio – The West Liberty volleyball team battled to the very end but was not able to overcome an early deficit in the fifth set and fell to Ashland 3-2 on Friday night. The Hilltoppers won the first two sets on the Eagles home court, who had only lost one home match in the last two seasons, however AU came back to win the match with set scores of 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, and 15-12.

QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 2, Ashland 3
Team Records: West Liberty 1-1, Ashland 2-0
Attendance: 456
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ashland opened the match by taking the early 5-2 advantage before West Liberty scored three straight points to tie the game at five. After momentarily trading points the Eagles would once again bring their lead up to three points before the Hilltoppers used a 7-2 scoring run to take a 16-15 lead. The teams once again continued to trade points before a kill by Kaija Sydlowski gave WLU their third straight point to win the set after being tied at 22.
• Another kill by Sydlowski and a pair of service aces by Haley Zeck continued the West Liberty momentum from the end of set number one, however Ashland remained composed and fought back to take an early 5-4 advantage in set two. Midway through the set the Hilltoppers used a 6-2 scoring run to jump out to a 13-10 lead. AU scored six straight to jumpstart their own 12-4 scoring run, allowing them to retake a 22-17 lead late in the frame. Katelynn Fritz put away four kills towards the end of set two, aiding an 8-1 scoring for the Hilltoppers to win the frame 25-23.
• Trailing 14-10 midway through set three, West Liberty looked to have the momentum swinging their direction after a solo block by Riley Cudnik put the Hilltoppers on top 15-14. The teams then traded 3-0 scoring runs, before Ashland closed the set on an 8-3 run to give the Eagles the 25-21 victory in the third frame.
• AU continued to carry the momentum into set four with a 5-1 advantage to open the frame, and they maintained a four point advantage until WLU scored four straight to tie the score at nine. The Hilltoppers momentarily took one point leads at 12-11 and 13-12 after a kill by Leah Driscoll and an Ashland service error, but the Eagles held the slight advantage the remainder of the set and ended the frame on a 3-0 scoring run to win the fourth set 25-21 and force set five.
• Ashland continued their trend of fast starts to open each set, building an 8-2 lead as the teams switched sides. Back-to-back kills by Live McAtee brought West Liberty back within two at 8-6, however the Hilltoppers were unable to get any closer than two the remainder of the fifth set as the Eagles went on to win the frame 15-12.
• In only her second career game as a Hilltopper, freshman setter Dakoda Keni posted her first career double-double game with a team-high 30 assists and ten digs. Katelynn Fritz, a senior outside hitter, also posted a double-double in the contest with her first 15+ kill and 15+ dig game since her freshman season.
• Ashland held the advantage with a .230 attack percentage in the match compared to West Liberty's .191 attack percentage. WLU held the edge in kills (65-61), assists (62-59), and digs (92-77).

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Dakoda Keni: 30 assists, 10 digs, 1 kill
Nyia Setla: 30 digs, 7 assists
Katelynn Fritz: 15 kills, .324 attack percentage, 15 digs, 1 service ace
Riley Cudnik: 11 kills, .370 attack percentage, 4 digs
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will play the first game of the day on Saturday afternoon at the Ashland University Tournament, facing off against Central State. The Hilltoppers and Marauders are slated for a 10:30 A.M. first serve at Kates Gymnasium.