West Liberty, W.Va – The West Liberty University volleyball team opened the home schedule in thrilling fashion, winning a 5-set match over Indiana (PA), 3-2. The Hilltoppers won the match with set scores of 23-25, 25-17, 26-24, 23-25, and 15-13, protecting the ASRC home court with their sixth consecutive win in a home opener, dating back to 2018.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: West Liberty 3, Indiana (PA) 2
Team Records: West Liberty 3-2, Indiana (PA) 3-2
Attendance: 125
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After going back-and-forth throughout the early portions of the first set, West Liberty used a 7-0 scoring run to gain an 18-11 advantage. Indiana (PA) would rally right back, responding with a 6-0 scoring run, with four consecutive service aces. The Crimson Hawks closed out the set with three consecutive kills from Nyla Birch. IUP ended the set on a 14-5 run to win the opening set 25-23.
• West Liberty and Indiana (PA) traded the first five points of set two before a pair of kills by Katelynn Fritz helped open an early 5-3 Hilltopper lead. The Crimson Hawks once again responded with a 5-1 scoring run to take an 8-6 lead, but the Black & Gold took control of the set with a commanding 17-3 scoring run. IUP made one last attempt with a 6-1 run, but WLU closed out the set with a kill from Riley Cudnik to win 25-17.
• West Liberty started quick in set three, jumping out to a 10-4 lead before the teams traded 5-0 (IUP) and 4-0 (WLU) scoring runs. With the Hilltoppers sitting at set point, leading 24-20, The Crimson Hawks rallied off four straight points to the match at 24. The Black & Gold maintained their composure as Cudnik and Page Gross put down a pair of kills to end the set at 26-24.
• Following an early 7-7 tie in set four, West Liberty used a 6-1 run to jump out to a 13-8 advantage. The Crimson Hawks, however, used a 7-1 scoring run to regain the lead at 15-14. Neither team would hold a lead of more than two points the remainder of the set and following a 23-23 tie IUP scored the final two points of the set to force set number five.
• Just as competitive as the first four sets, West Liberty held a narrow 6-5 advantage early in set five. Following a 4-0 Indiana (PA) scoring run, the Hilltoppers scored seven of the next nine points to take a 13-11 lead. The Crimson Hawks would tie the game at 13, however a pair of IUP errors gave the Black & Gold a 15-13 win in set five and the match.
• With a career-high 18 kills, Fritz added a season-high of 16 digs for her second double-double of the season. Liv McAtee reached double figures in kills for the second time in her career, and first time this season.
• For the second time this season Dakoda Keni (22) and Haley Zeck (20) each recorded 20 or more assists in a match.
• The Hilltoppers held the advantage in the match with a .196 attack percentage compared to .150 for the Crimson Hawks. WLU held the edge in digs (78-73), while IUP won the battle in total points (83-77), aces (7-5), blocks (13-9) and assists (53-50). The teams were even in kills with 63 apiece in the match.

WEST LIBERTY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Katelynn Fritz: 18 kills, .250 attack percentage, 16 digs
Liv McAtee: 10 kills, .364 attack percentage, 7 digs, 3 blocks, 1 service ace
Dakoda Keni: 22 assists, 7 digs
Haley Zeck: 20 assists, 6 digs
Nyia Setla: 15 digs, 6 assists
 
UP NEXT
West Liberty will continue non-conference play this weekend as they travel north to Buffalo, New York to play in the D'Youville Tournament. The Hilltoppers will face the hosts of D'Youville followed by Lake Erie on Friday afternoon and will conclude their trip with matches against East Stroudsburg and Saint Rose on Saturday.