WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty returns home Friday night looking to build on a 3-1 start in Mountain East Conference play when the Hilltoppers welcome Frostburg State to the ASRC for a 7 p.m. matchup.

West Liberty enters Friday's contest at 4-14 overall and 3-1 in MEC play after sweeping Point Park, 3-0, on Tuesday night. The Hilltoppers are currently third in the MEC North Division, trailing Fairmont State and Wheeling.

Frostburg State comes to the Hilltop at 5-9 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Bobcats dropped a 3-0 decision at Wheeling on Tuesday after opening MEC play with wins against Point Park and Davis & Elkins.

The Hilltoppers have already shown they can compete in conference play, opening the MEC portion of their schedule with a 3-1 win against Charleston, followed by a 3-1 victory at Davis & Elkins. West Liberty dropped a 3-0 decision at Fairmont State before bouncing back with Tuesday's sweep of Point Park.

Sophomore outside hitter Amira DuPree continues to lead the Hilltopper attack and ranks among the MEC's top offensive players.

DuPree enters Friday ranked sixth in the conference in kills at 2.93 per set and sixth in points at 3.37 per set. She has recorded 179 kills through 61 sets while adding 17 service aces and 177 digs.

Senior setter Dakoda Keni has helped direct the Hilltopper offense throughout the season. Keni ranks second in the MEC with 6.38 assists per set, while also contributing 0.10 service aces per set and 2.14 digs per set.

Junior Taylor Speake has provided a strong defensive presence for the Hilltoppers, ranking sixth in the MEC with 4.23 digs per set.

Senior middle hitter Julia Birck has also been a key contributor at the net. Birck is hitting .296 on the season and ranks among the conference leaders with 0.67 blocks per set.

Frostburg State counters with one of the MEC's top offensive threats in junior Alliyah McNair.

McNair leads the Bobcats with 138 kills and a 3.00 kills-per-set average, ranking third in the MEC in kills per set. She also has 17 blocks and 157.5 points through 46 sets.

Frostburg also gets production from Grace Yocham, who has 79 kills, while Maya Johnson has added 78 kills. Evans Adele leads the Bobcats with 0.85 blocks per set.

Setter Emery Kuebler leads Frostburg with 3.85 assists per set, while Rhea Shetty is averaging 3.39 assists per set. Miranda Ball anchors the defensive effort with 3.63 digs per set.

As a team, Frostburg is hitting .128 with 10.51 kills per set and 1.82 blocks per set. The Bobcats are also averaging 1.98 service aces per set, second-best in the MEC.

The matchup features two teams that have taken different paths statistically.

West Liberty ranks eighth in the MEC in kills at 10.93 per set, while Frostburg ranks 10th at 10.51. The Hilltoppers are ninth in assists at 9.54 per set and Frostburg is 10th at 9.45.

Frostburg has the edge in blocking, ranking sixth in the conference at 1.82 blocks per set, while West Liberty is 11th at 1.25. The Bobcats also rank second in service aces at 1.98 per set, compared to 1.57 for the Hilltoppers.

West Liberty has been particularly effective defensively, ranking sixth in the MEC with 14.75 digs per set. Frostburg is eighth at 13.80.

Friday marks the first of two meetings between the teams this season. West Liberty will travel to Frostburg on Nov. 2 for the rematch.

The Hilltoppers won the most recent meeting in West Liberty, taking a 3-1 decision on Nov. 11, 2025. Frostburg won the 2025 meeting in Maryland, 3-1, on Oct. 10.

The teams also split a pair of five-set matches in 2024, with West Liberty winning at home before Frostburg claimed the rematch in Maryland.




West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.