WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The West Liberty University volleyball team returns to the ASRC on Friday night for a key Mountain East Conference matchup against Fairmont State. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Hilltoppers enter the contest at 10-17 overall and 9-4 in MEC play, tied with Wheeling for second place in the North Division. West Liberty will look to build on a 3-0 road victory over Point Park on Monday, which moved the team to 9-4 in conference play.

Fairmont State brings a 24-5 overall record and a 12-1 mark in the MEC into Friday's matchup. The Falcons sit atop the North Division standings and are coming off a 3-0 win over Davis & Elkins on Monday.

The two teams met earlier this season on Sept. 25 in Fairmont, where the Falcons earned a 3-0 victory. Fairmont State took the opening two sets, 25-17 and 25-11, before closing out the match with a 27-25 win in the third.

Fairmont State presents one of the conference's top offensive attacks, leading the MEC in team hitting percentage (.202), kills per set (13.36), assists per set (12.44), digs per set (18.31) and points per set (16.86). The Falcons also rank second in the conference in opponent hitting percentage, holding teams to a .125 mark.

West Liberty will look to counter with several of the conference's top individual performers. Amira DuPree ranks fourth in the MEC with 3.02 kills per set, while setter Dakoda Keni leads the conference with 7.54 assists per set. Middle hitter Julia Birck ranks fifth in hitting percentage at .317, and Taylor Speake is sixth in digs per set at 4.31. Speake also ranks fifth in service aces per set at .42.

Fairmont State features a number of its own conference standouts, including Josie Nobbe, who has recorded 286 kills, and Natalie Zemba, who ranks among the MEC leaders with a .329 hitting percentage. Setter Belle DeVall ranks fourth in assists per set at 6.20, while Grace DeVall leads the conference with 5.45 digs per set.


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.