PITTSBURGH — The West Liberty University volleyball team earned a 3-0 road sweep of Point Park on Monday night at Student Center Gym, winning by set scores of 25-20, 25-22 and 25-20 to improve to 10-17 overall and 9-4 in Mountain East Conference play.
The Hilltoppers (10-17, 9-4 MEC) controlled the match offensively, finishing with a 48-31 advantage in kills and hitting .279. West Liberty saved its best attacking performance for the third set, recording 20 kills with a .372 hitting percentage to complete the sweep. Point Park (6-17, 3-10 MEC) hit .244 for the match.
West Liberty overcame several tight stretches by stringing together scoring runs at key moments. After trailing 18-16 late in the opening set, the Hilltoppers won six straight points to take control at 22-18.
Jessa Anderson served the run, recording an ace, while
Amira DuPree and
Ava Trentman each added a kill. West Liberty closed out the set, 25-20.
The Hilltoppers mounted another important push in the second set, turning a 16-15 deficit into a 20-17 lead. A block involving Trentman and
Dakoda Keni, kills from
Giana Bogunovich and Trentman, and a Point Park attack error fueled the surge.
Adrienne Staib delivered back-to-back kills to close out the set, giving West Liberty a 25-22 win and a 2-0 match advantage.
West Liberty carried its momentum into the third set, turning a narrow 19-18 lead into a 25-20 finish by winning six of the final eight points.
Sidney Keni recorded two kills during the closing stretch, Bogunovich put the Hilltoppers at match point, and
Taylor Speake finished the match with a kill off an Anderson assist.
Trentman led West Liberty with 14 kills on a .636 hitting percentage and added a block assist. DuPree contributed 12 kills, two service aces and seven digs, while Staib recorded seven kills, four aces and three block assists.
Dakoda Keni directed the offense with 40 assists and added eight digs and a service ace. Anderson helped guide the Hilltoppers through key serving stretches as West Liberty secured its ninth conference victory.
The Hilltoppers return home Friday, Oct. 30, to host Fairmont State in a Mountain East Conference matchup. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Academic, Sports & Recreation Complex.
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.
