WHEELING, W.Va. — The West Liberty University volleyball team battled back from an early deficit but dropped a 3-1 decision to Wheeling on Tuesday at the Alma Grace McDonough Center. The Cardinals won by set scores of 25-12, 25-20, 13-25 and 25-19.
After falling behind 2-0, West Liberty responded with its strongest set of the night, racing to a 25-13 third-set victory. Wheeling regained control in the fourth set, however, to close out the match.
The Hilltoppers finished with 50 kills and 59 digs while hitting .193 for the match. Wheeling also recorded 50 kills and hit .250, with the Cardinals holding narrow advantages in digs (62-59), blocks (5-4) and service aces (5-3). West Liberty committed 22 attack errors and 11 service errors, compared to 16 attack errors and seven service errors for Wheeling.
Amira DuPree led the Hilltoppers with 14 kills and 14 digs, while
Dakoda Keni directed the offense with 35 assists.
Taylor Speake added 22 digs,
Julia Birck finished with 10 kills and
Giana Bogunovich contributed six kills.
West Liberty stayed within striking distance early in the opening set, with Birck recording three kills as Wheeling held a 9-8 advantage. The Cardinals then scored six straight points to open a 15-8 lead and went on to take the set, 25-12.
The Hilltoppers responded with a strong start in the second set. Four consecutive points while DuPree was serving pushed West Liberty from a 5-4 deficit to a 9-4 lead. The run included kills from Bogunovich and Birck before a block from Keni and Birck.
Wheeling answered with a run of its own, taking a 15-12 lead and maintaining the advantage the rest of the way. West Liberty got late kills from Keni and DuPree but could not close the gap as the Cardinals took the set, 25-20.
The Hilltoppers came out aggressively in the third set, turning a 1-1 tie into an 8-2 lead.
Adrienne Staib sparked the run from the service line with an ace, while Bogunovich and DuPree added kills and Birck and
Sidney Keni teamed up for a block.
West Liberty continued to build on the momentum, with DuPree recording six kills in the set. The Hilltoppers closed out the 25-13 victory on a Speake service ace to force a fourth set.
West Liberty again stayed close early in the fourth, using kills from Keni and
Sidney Keni to take a 9-8 lead. The Hilltoppers remained within one at 15-14 following back-to-back DuPree kills, but Wheeling answered with four straight points and eventually closed out the set, 25-19, to take the match.
DuPree finished with her double-double of 14 kills and 14 digs. Keni added six kills and seven digs to go with her 35 assists while hitting .417. Speake posted 22 digs and eight assists, while Birck added 10 kills and three block assists.
The Hilltoppers will return to the road Friday, visiting Glenville State before traveling to West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday.
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.
