WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University volleyball team delivered a statement win on Tuesday night, sweeping rival Wheeling University 27-25, 25-18, 27-25 inside the ASRC.

The Hilltoppers put together one of their most complete performances of the season, combining efficient offense and a stout defense that recorded seven total blocks. West Liberty tallied 54 kills while hitting .260, holding the Cardinals to 44 kills and a .150 percentage. The victory marked just the third win over Wheeling in the last 57 meetings — and the first since March 5, 2021.

West Liberty opened the first set with energy but quickly faced a small deficit after a Wheeling run. The Hilltoppers clawed back behind early kills from Adrienne Staib and Liv McAtee, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle. With the score tied at 20-20, Grace Hill and Kyia White came up big down the stretch, while Ashley Cudnik and McAtee sealed the set, 27-25, with clutch kills and strong net play.

Carrying that momentum into the second set, the Hilltoppers raced out to a 3-0 start highlighted by a Cudnik kill and key defensive stops from Staib and McAtee. The Cardinals briefly tied the score at 4-4, but West Liberty responded with a 6-2 run fueled by kills from White and Cudnik. Consistent execution and a service ace extended the lead, and West Liberty never looked back — closing the set 25-18.

In the third, Wheeling took an early 2-0 edge before West Liberty answered with another Cudnik kill to tie it. Both teams traded points in a tightly contested frame, with Amira DuPree providing a spark off the bench. After Wheeling rallied to even the score at 17-17, DuPree and Cudnik powered the Hilltoppers back in front. Dakoda Keni's timely service ace gave WLU a 25-24 lead, and Cudnik's final kill punctuated a thrilling 27-25 set — and the sweep.

Cudnik led all players with 18 kills and 14 digs, while Keni orchestrated the offense with 45 assists. White added 14 kills on a .480 hitting percentage, and McAtee contributed nine kills and three blocks in the win.

West Liberty (10-10, 3-2 MEC) will look to build on the momentum when it hosts Davis & Elkins Friday. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside the ASRC.