West Liberty, W.Va. - Coming off a Mountain East Conference North Division championship and an 18-win season, the West Liberty University volleyball team enters the 2026 campaign with a new challenge for third-year head coach Makenzy Johnson.

The Hilltoppers are coming off an 18-13 season that included a 10-4 mark in MEC play and the program's first North Division championship. Johnson enters her third season at the helm with a 33-28 overall record and a 19-9 conference mark through her first two seasons on the Hilltop.

But while the expectations continue to rise, this year's team is taking shape around a young group of newcomers and a veteran core that Johnson believes is doing an important job establishing the culture of the program.

"Feeling good," Johnson said during preseason camp. "With the newcomers we have coming in, it was a bit of an adjustment trying to get them on board. But I think the returners that we have are really good leaders. Our energy, all the non-negotiable, non-tangible items — the things you can't coach in a kid, like their effort, attitude, energy — all that kind of stuff is a lot better this year."

That leadership starts with senior setter Dakoda Keni, who enters her final season as West Liberty's all-time career assists leader with 2,575. Keni also owns the program's single-season assists record after recording 1,059 assists in 2023. She added 920 assists during the 2025 season, averaging 8.21 assists per set while contributing 31 service aces and 284 digs.

For Johnson, however, Keni's value extends well beyond the statistics. "It's everything. She's awesome," Johnson said. "I think that she is such a consistent player, consistent teammate, consistent friend for the girls. She earns the trust of people before she even has a ball in her hands."

Keni is embracing her role as one of the team's veteran leaders, including mentoring younger setters and players throughout the roster. "Coming into her senior year, she's super excited to continue to leave her legacy in a way," Johnson said. "She's really big on mentoring younger setters, mentoring younger players. She is one of the best teammates that I can think of right now."

Keni isn't the only returning player Johnson expects to make a significant impact. Adrienne Staib returns after recording 116 kills and 92 blocks during the 2025 season. She finished second on the team with 73 block assists and averaged 0.94 blocks per set. Johnson has watched Staib develop from a freshman into one of the team's veteran leaders. "Adrienne and Dakoda were two players that were freshmen when I was a GA here," Johnson said. "It's almost like I've watched them grow up and I've watched them grow into leadership roles and become upperclassmen on a team that they were once freshmen on." Johnson believes Staib's confidence can become contagious. "She plays so confidently and she's so sure of herself and that kind of energy is contagious on our court," Johnson said.

Sophomore Amira DuPree is also stepping into a larger leadership role. DuPree recorded 115 kills and 26 service aces last season while adding 196 digs. With DuPree the only returning player at outside hitter, Johnson is counting on the sophomore to help lead a young position group. "She's coming into the leadership role of leading our outsides," Johnson said. "Only being a sophomore, she's the only returner we have in that position, and she's taken that role and amplified the intensity for that group."

Johnson is also looking for continued growth from Lily Brinker, who has embraced the role of helping her teammates improve. Brinker played 37 sets last season, recording 59 digs and 10 service aces. "She is always looking for someone that she can help build their confidence or help build their skill set," Johnson said. "She asked me day one of preseason if she could come in for extra reps." Johnson said that willingness to work has made Brinker an important part of the team's culture. "Her hard work and she has this never-satisfied attitude that goes over really well in our program," Johnson said.

Sidney Keni is another returning piece who has expanded her versatility during the preseason by training on the right side. Sidney appeared in 15 sets last season, recording 29 kills while hitting .375 and adding 10 blocks.

Johnson is looking forward to seeing what Sidney can bring to the lineup during her final season alongside her sister. "She's really expanded her versatility with training on the right side," Johnson said. "She's another workhorse just like her sister, so I know she's excited and they get one last year together to go out with a bang."

The returning group also includes Kaelynn Burge, who joined the program as a mid-year addition last season and quickly established herself as a fit within the Hilltopper culture. Johnson believes that group of returners will be especially important as West Liberty integrates its newcomers. "The biggest thing about this returning group is they're all doing things that allow our newcomers to see what we're all about and what we stand for," Johnson said. "I think we have the best group of returners this year to take on the responsibility of trying to get newcomers to get on board."

That newcomer group includes five freshmen who are beginning their collegiate careers on the Hilltop: Jessa Anderson, a defensive specialist from New Martinsville, W.Va.; Giana Bogunovich, an outside hitter from Alliance, Ohio; Addyson Lewis, a setter/defensive specialist from Clarkston, Mich.; Julia Birck, a middle blocker from Cincinnati, Ohio; and Madilyn Stroud, a defensive specialist from Virginia Beach, Va. Johnson has been encouraged by the freshman class's early approach to the college game. "They're a funny bunch. They keep us laughing," Johnson said. "But they have come in and again fit the mold of working hard, getting our stuff done on and off the court, and they're just excited to be here."

The Hilltoppers also welcome four transfers who bring collegiate experience from a variety of levels. Emma Lewis, a junior right side from Kalamazoo, Mich., comes to West Liberty from Lake Michigan College; Taylor Speake, a redshirt freshman defensive specialist/libero from Bozeman, Mont., joins the Hilltoppers from Central Washington; Aleya Baptiste, a junior outside hitter from Honolulu, Hawaii, comes to the Hilltop from Lourdes; and Ava Treatman, a sophomore middle blocker from New Bremen, Ohio, joins West Liberty from Converse University.

"They're coming from all walks of life, all over the country," Johnson said. "But they're rising to the challenge, and that's really all we can ask for them right now." Johnson said the transfer group has embraced the learning process by asking questions, watching film and working through the adjustments required to fit into the West Liberty system. "They are working hard. They're asking questions. They're watching film," Johnson said. "We're super excited to see what they can do and what they can bring to our roster, to our lineup in the fall."

The newcomers are also benefiting from the leadership of West Liberty's returning players, who Johnson believes have set a strong example both on and off the court. "I think we have the best group of returners this year to take on the responsibility of trying to get newcomers to get on board," Johnson said.

Johnson has another new addition helping with that process in graduate assistant Kennedy Beatty, who has quickly made an impression on the program. Beatty has taken the defensive specialist group under her wing, drawing on her own experience as a DS during her playing career. "Kennedy's awesome. Kennedy just led our yoga this morning. She did great," Johnson said. "She's very communicative with the players. She's taken the DS group under her wing." Johnson said Beatty's early commitment has been particularly valuable. "The girls love working with her and just seeing her excitement and her buy-in so early on is really motivating," Johnson said. "That's all you can really ask for, especially for someone who's in a position as a graduate assistant for them to come in and care for your kids and love your kids as much as you do, and she definitely does that."

While the Hilltoppers are still putting the pieces together, Johnson likes the progress she has seen during preseason. "We have a few more, like eight more days of preseason, but I think given that we are such a young, new team, the way that we're progressing, I'm pretty happy with it," Johnson said.

The goal is not perfection in August. "Would I say that we're perfectly ready to go right now? Probably not," Johnson said. "But we're getting there."

West Liberty will have plenty of opportunities to test that progress early in the season. The Hilltoppers open the 2026 campaign Aug. 28-29 at the University of Indianapolis Invitational before continuing non-conference play and then turning their attention to the MEC schedule.

The Hilltoppers are focused on building on last year's North Division championship while taking another step forward when the postseason arrives. Johnson said the program has been discussing those goals since February rather than waiting until the start of preseason. "We're really hoping to make it past first round," Johnson said. "We have the goals of making it past the first round in MECs, making it back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a few years."

Those competitive goals are part of a larger vision for the program, one Johnson believes extends well beyond wins and losses. "Off the court, I think, is where we see the biggest growth in our program," Johnson said. "Whether it's academically, accountability, taking care of their bodies and just teaching them to be well-rounded athletes and well-rounded humans."

That culture has helped create a team Johnson believes is enjoying the process more than ever. "We've been told that we look like we're having fun," Johnson said. "Our girls look like we're having fun. And that's all due to the work that they're putting off of the court to create a better culture this year."

Now, with a North Division championship behind them and a young roster taking shape, the Hilltoppers enter 2026 looking to turn last year's breakthrough into another step forward. For Johnson, that process starts with the same things she believes cannot be coached. "The team is working really hard," she said. "The girls love playing with each other, and those again are things that I can't really coach."
 



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.