WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Liberty rallied for a 3-2 Mountain East Conference victory over Frostburg State on Friday night at the ASRC, winning by set scores of 21-25, 25-21, 25-18, 22-25 and 15-6.
The Hilltoppers improved to 5-14 overall and 4-1 in MEC play with the victory.
The match also featured a career milestone for senior setter
Dakoda Keni, who surpassed 3,000 career assists during the victory. Keni now has 3,006 career assists, adding to her status as West Liberty's all-time career leader in assists. She also owns the school's single-season record for assists.
West Liberty finished with a statistical edge in the match, recording 55 kills to Frostburg State's 50 while hitting .206 compared to .149 for the Bobcats. The Hilltoppers also held an 85-79 advantage in digs and recorded 12 service aces. Frostburg State finished with eight blocks to West Liberty's three.
Keni directed the Hilltopper offense with 42 assists while adding 11 digs and a service ace.
Taylor Speake anchored the back row with 27 digs and served five aces.
Sidney Keni led the attack with 14 kills while hitting .440, while
Julia Birck added 11 kills at a .450 clip.
Amira DuPree contributed 13 kills and 15 digs, and
Adrienne Staib provided several key kills throughout the match.
West Liberty took control of the second set after Frostburg State opened with three straight points. Speake's service ace gave the Hilltoppers a 9-7 lead, and after the teams were tied at 18-18, West Liberty got late kills from
Dakoda Keni,
Sidney Keni and Staib before Birck closed out the 25-21 victory.
The Hilltoppers carried the momentum into the third set. After Frostburg State pulled within 10-9, West Liberty responded with a Bogunovich kill and consecutive Speake aces to build a 14-9 advantage. Birck added a late kill as the Hilltoppers closed out the set, 25-18.
Frostburg State answered in the fourth set. A Birck kill put West Liberty ahead 17-16, but the Bobcats scored six straight points to take a 22-17 lead. The Hilltoppers battled back behind kills from
Giana Bogunovich and a Speake ace, pulling within 24-22 before Frostburg State forced a fifth set.
The Hilltoppers dominated the deciding set, closing on a 7-0 run after Frostburg State pulled within 8-6.
Jessa Anderson served the final six points, recording two aces, while Birck delivered back-to-back kills off Keni assists to help seal the 15-6 victory.
West Liberty hit .417 with 17 kills in the second set and held Frostburg State to -.083 hitting in the fifth.
The Hilltoppers now hit the road for another MEC matchup, visiting Wheeling on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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.
