GLENVILLE, W.Va. — The West Liberty University volleyball team battled back from multiple deficits but fell to Glenville State, 3-2, Friday night at the Waco Center. The Pioneers prevailed 19-25, 26-24, 20-25, 25-18, 15-12.
The Hilltoppers won the first and third sets and held leads in both the second and fourth before Glenville State rallied to force a decisive fifth set.
West Liberty finished with a statistical edge in several categories, collecting 58 kills to 53 for Glenville State while hitting .191 compared to .160 for the Pioneers. The Hilltoppers also held a 68-66 advantage in digs and a 51-48 edge in assists. Both teams recorded seven aces and six blocks.
Amira DuPree led the Hilltoppers with 17 kills and 14 digs while scoring a team-high 19 points.
Dakoda Keni directed the offense with 40 assists and added eight kills without an attack error, hitting .727.
Taylor Speake anchored the defense with 17 digs and added four assists and two aces, while
Sidney Keni contributed nine kills and three solo blocks.
West Liberty jumped out quickly in the opening set, scoring the first five points behind
Lily Brinker's serve. Glenville State eventually moved in front 9-8, but a
Dakoda Keni kill tied the set before a DuPree ace put the Hilltoppers back ahead, 10-9.
Sidney Keni's kill made it 24-18 before a Glenville State service error gave West Liberty the 25-19 victory.
The Hilltoppers overcame an early 6-1 deficit in the second set and later turned a 9-11 deficit into a 14-12 advantage.
Jessa Anderson delivered an ace during the run that gave West Liberty the lead. The Hilltoppers later held a 20-17 advantage and fought back to tie the set at 24 on a DuPree kill, but Glenville State scored the final two points to even the match at one set apiece.
West Liberty responded in the third set with another strong service run. After the teams battled to a 3-3 tie, Speake helped spark four straight points, including back-to-back aces, as the Hilltoppers moved ahead 7-3. Glenville State closed within four at 24-20, but a Pioneer attack error gave West Liberty the 25-20 win and a 2-1 match lead.
The Hilltoppers built a 12-8 advantage in the fourth set behind early kills from
Julia Birck and DuPree. Glenville State, however, answered with a 12-point run to take control at 20-12. West Liberty was unable to overcome the deficit as the Pioneers forced a fifth set with a 25-18 victory.
West Liberty again took control early in the deciding set, building a 10-6 lead. Glenville State responded with seven consecutive points to move in front 13-10.
Giana Bogunovich stopped the run with a kill off a Keni assist, and the Hilltoppers pulled within 14-12 on a Glenville State bad set. The Pioneers, however, closed out the match on the next point, taking the fifth set 15-12.
Keni finished with 40 assists and eight kills without an attack error, hitting .727 for the match. DuPree added one ace and one solo block to her 17 kills and 14 digs. Speake finished with 17 digs, four assists and two aces, while
Sidney Keni recorded nine kills and three solo blocks.
The Hilltoppers will have little time to regroup as they return to action Saturday at 10 a.m., visiting West Virginia Wesleyan for another Mountain East Conference matchup in Buckhannon.
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.
