West Liberty, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team extended their win streak to seven matches in the opener of the Atlantic Region Crossover, sweeping Slippery Rock 3-0 with set scores of 25-15, 25-9, and 25-23. The Hilltoppers then saw that win streak come to an end as they fell to (RV) Clarion 3-0 by set scores of 25-20, 25-15, and 25-17 in the third game of the day in the ASRC. The seven game win streak for WLU was the longest by the program since they posted seven consecutive wins midway through the 2018 season.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: West Liberty 3, Slippery Rock 0
Final Score Game 2: West Liberty 0, Clarion 3
Team Records: West Liberty 9-3, Slippery Rock 6-3, Clarion 9-1
Attendance: 117 & 107
 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SLIPPERY ROCK

• Slippery Rock opened the match by taking three of the first four points before West Liberty responded with a Liv McAtee kill and two more from Katelynn Fritz. The Hilltoppers extended the scoring run to 9-1 by taking a 9-4 lead. The Rock remained close with a 4-2 scoring run to get back within three points, however the Black & Gold seized control of the set by ending the frame with an 8-1 scoring run. WLU won the set on a block by Ashley Cudnik to win 25-15.
• After a service ace by Dakoda Keni to open set two, Slippery Rock took back-to-back points to briefly take their only lead of the set at 2-1. A kill from Fritz caped the ensuing 7-1 scoring run to give the Hilltoppers a five point lead. SRU momentarily kept the lead at four points, but WLU seized control with an 8-2 scoring run, extending their lead to double digits following an attack error by the visitors. Page Gross and Leah Driscoll each had a pair of kills during West Liberty's 7-0 run to end the set, winning 25-9.
• Slippery Rock opened set three with a 3-1 advantage before West Liberty once again went on a large scoring run with another Fritz kill capping an 8-1 rally. The Hilltoppers extended their lead to 12-5 early in the frame, however The Rock would not go down without a fight and responded with a 7-0 run to tie the set at 12. While going back-and-forth the remainder of the set the Black & Gold would lead by as many as three points and held off The Rock with a kill by Driscoll securing match point at 25-23.
• Fritz, the reigning MEC Offensive Player of the Week, notched her fourth consecutive double digit kill match and her fifth double-double of the season in the win. Driscoll also played a key role in the Hilltopper attack with her second consecutive double-digit kill match of the season.
• Setla reached double figure digs for the 11^th time this season and fifth time of 20 or more.
• Keni backed up the best performance by a WLU setter in more than a decade with her fourth 30+ assist match of the season.
• West Liberty held the advantage in the match with a .239 attack percentage compared to only .040 from Slippery Rock. The Hilltoppers also held the edge in points (53-24), kills (45-20), aces (5-1), assists (37-20), and digs (58-40). The teams were even with three blocks apiece.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS VS. SLIPPERY ROCK
Katelynn Fritz: 12 kills, .267 attack percentage, 11 digs, 2 blocks, 2 service aces
Dakoda Keni: 34 assists, 9 digs, 1 service ace
Nyia Setla: 23 digs, 2 assists, 1 service ace
 
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. CLARION

• A kill by Katlynn Fritz gave West Liberty the 5-3 lead to open the match, however Clarion seized control of the set with an 8-1 scoring run to grab an 11-6 advantage. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to as many as eight points at 16-8, but a kill by Ashley Cudnik brought the Hilltoppers back within three points at 22-19 after a 5-1 scoring run. With the Black & Gold threatening late, Clarion was able to hold their composure and take three of the final four points for a 25-20 set win.
• West Liberty once again took the early lead in set two, leading 5-3 with kills by Fritz and Leah Driscoll. A 6-2 scoring run was able to give Clarion the lead for good in the frame, leading 9-7. After trading the next five points the Golden Eagles outscored the Hilltoppers 14-6 to build a double digit lead at 23-13 and would win the set 25-15.
• Clarion carried the momentum of set two into set three, opening the frame on a 6-1 scoring run. West Liberty scored five consecutive to tie the match at six following a service ace by Nyia Setla, however the Golden Eagles once again took six of the next eight points to go back up by four. The Black & Gold were able to get back within one point twice, but Clarion ended the set on an eight one scoring run to claim match point and a 25-17 set win.
• Cudnik reached double figure kills for the fourth time in the last five matches to lead the WLU attack, while Setla continued to lead the defense with her 12^th consecutive double figure dig game to open the season.
• Dakoda Keni posted her 12^th consecutive double figure assist game of the season and reached 20 or more assists for the ninth time this year.
• Clarion held the advantage in the match with a .357 attack percentage compared to .126 for West Liberty. The Golden Eagles also held the edge in points (55-35), kills (43-31), aces (6-2), blocks (6-2), assists (39-30), and digs (49-42).

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS VS. CLARION
Ashley Cudnik: 11 kills, .172 attack percentage, 2 digs
Dakoda Keni: 24 assists, 6 digs
Nyia Setla: 14 digs, 4 assists, 2 service aces
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty concludes non-conference play and the Atlantic Region Crossover tomorrow as they face Shippensburg and Pitt-Johnstown on the hilltop. The Hilltoppers and Raiders open the day with an 11 a.m. first serve, and the Hilltoppers and Mountain Cats will end the day with a 5 p.m. first serve in the ASRC.