Ashland, Ohio – The West Liberty University women's volleyball team swings into action this weekend with four challenging matches on tap at the Ashland University Volleyball Invitational hosted by Ashland University.
 
 
 
GAME DETAILS:
            Date: Friday,  September 6, 2024 - September 7, 2024
            Opponents:
                        Friday - East Stroudsburg (Pa.)  vs. West Liberty - 10 a.m.
                        Friday - D'Youville (N.Y.)  vs. West Liberty - 4 p.m.
                        Saturday - Nova Southeastern vs. West Liberty - Noon
                        Saturday - West Liberty at Ashland - 6 p.m.
            Location: Ashland, Ohio (Kates Gymnasium)  
            Tournament Central: : Ashland University Tournament Central
 
WEST LIBERTY STORYLINES:
 

• First-Year Head Coach Makenzy Johnson's Hilltoppers open tournament play on Friday at 10:00 a.m. against East Stroudsburg (Pa.) before closing out the evening slate with a 7 p.m. match against D'Youville (N.Y.).
• Johnson spent the 2023 season as Graduate Assistant Volleyball Coach for the Hilltopper volleyball program
• West Liberty wraps things up on Saturday with a noon match against Sunshine State program Nova University at noon followed by a 6:00 p.m. closer against host Ashland.
• Earning back-to-back NCAA Division II Atlantic Region bids West Liberty volleyball has been on the rise over the past few seasons
• WLU was defeated by host Gannon in the opening round of the 2023 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region volleyball tournament
• With a team of veteran upperclassmen and a very talented group of newcomers, the Hilltoppers are excited for first serve this weekend.
• WLU finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 23-10
• The Black and Gold went 10-4 in league play to finish second in a highly-competitive MEC North Division.
• Junior middle blocker and right side hitter Liv McAtee was named All-MEC Honorable Mention during the 2023 season.
• McAtee was second on the team with 250 kills, averaging 2.34 kills per set while hitting .224 on the year
• Sophomore setter Dakoda Keni was named All-MEC Honorable Mention earning a spot on the All-MEC Freshman Team.
• Keni's 944 total assist ranked 7th all-time by a freshman at the NCAA Division II level
• The Hilltoppers were tied for second in the MEC Preseason Coaches' Poll

           
 
EAST STROUDSBURG STORYLINES:
 

• Tricia Melfy enters her 4th season as Head Coach of the Warriors program
• At the helm of the ESU program, Melfy has amassed an overall record of 55-32 and a career record of 95-75
• East Stroudsburg finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 22-7
• The Warriors were winners of 17 straight matches from September 16, 2023 to November 4, 2023
• ESU went 13-1 overall in PSAC East league play before dropping a thrilling five-set match in PSAC volleyball tournament.
• During the 2023 season, the warriors recorded a conference-best eight PSAC East Athlete of the week honors
• The Warriors were picked 3rd in the 2023 PSAC East Preseason Poll

 
 
D'YOUVILLE STORYLINES:
 

• Head Coach Jaimie Snyder enters her 3rd season at the helm of the Saints program
• D'Youville (N.Y.) finished the 2023 with an overall record of 7-18 and 3-9 in conference play
• The Saints were picked 6th in the 2024 East Coast Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
• DYU returns 13 athletes from the 2023 roster
• The Saints welcomed five new players to the program this season
• Sophomore Madeline O'Brien led the Saints offense with 355 kills last season

 
 
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN STORYLINES:
 

• Head Coach Kacie Ehinger enters her 2nd season at the helm of the Sharks programs
• Ehinger led the Sharks to a 20-win season and the program's 3rd consecutive NCAA Division II regional appearance
• The Sharks have advanced to the NCAA South Region Tournament for three consecutive seasons including back-to-back appearances with Ehinger at the helm
• Junior Taylor Stockman is a two-time AVCA All-American Honoree
• Stockman was named the 2022 Sunshine State Conference Freshman of the the Year
• NSU finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 20-11 and 12-8 in conference play
• Nova Southeastern was picked 3rd in the Sunshine State Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
• The sharks received votes in the first AVCA Preseason Poll

 ASHLAND STORYLINES: 
 

• Head Coach Katie Kuhn enters her 2nd season at the helm of the Eagles program
• During the 2023 season, Ashland finished with an overall record of 22-10
• The eagles were 15-4 in conference play and winners of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference South Division
• Kuhn served as the Eagle volleyball program's graduate assistant coach during the 2009 season
• The Eagles are three-time defending Great Midwest Athletic Conference South Division champions
• The Eagles return four veterans from the 2023 season
• Ashland received two first-place votes and were picked 2nd in the East Division of the G-MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

 
 
UP NEXT:
 
Following this weekend's tournament, West Liberty will be on the road again in a single non-conference lid-lifter at Indiana (Pa.) University. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m. inside the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex on the IUP campus