WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University volleyball team battled through two competitive matches Saturday on the second day of the West Liberty Invitational, dropping a 3-0 decision to Gannon before falling to Shippensburg by the same score at the ASRC.
The Hilltoppers showed stretches of strong play against both opponents, including a late third-set rally against Gannon and a first-set battle with Shippensburg that extended beyond regulation. West Liberty moves to 1-12 on the season and will return to action Tuesday at Ohio Dominican.
Against Gannon, the Hilltoppers put together their strongest stretches in the middle and late portions of the match. West Liberty held a 17-15 advantage in the opening set after consecutive blocks involving
Julia Birck and
Amira DuPree helped force Gannon attack errors. Gannon responded with five straight points to take a 20-17 lead and went on to win the set 25-19.
The Hilltoppers battled back from a 12-7 deficit in the second set, using kills from
Adrienne Staib and DuPree along with three Gannon attack errors to cut the margin to 14-12.
Giana Bogunovich and
Sidney Keni added kills later in the set, but Gannon maintained its advantage and closed out the frame 25-17.
West Liberty appeared poised to extend the match in the third set after turning a 13-12 deficit into a 17-14 lead. The Hilltoppers later held a 21-18 advantage before Gannon scored five consecutive points to move in front 23-21.
West Liberty answered with a Bogunovich kill and a DuPree-Birck block to tie the set at 23-23, but Gannon scored the final two points to complete the 25-23 victory.
DuPree led the Hilltoppers with nine kills and 11.5 points while adding 13 digs, two blocks and a service ace.
Taylor Speake recorded a team-high 15 digs, while
Dakoda Keni finished with 28 assists, five digs and four kills on .400 hitting. Birck contributed six kills and a team-high four blocks, including three solo blocks.
Gannon finished with 40 kills and hit .224 compared to West Liberty's 36 kills and .111 attack percentage. The Hilltoppers held a 49-45 advantage in digs and finished with five total blocks, one more than Gannon.
West Liberty returned to the court later Saturday against Shippensburg and again battled the Raiders closely in the opening set.
The Hilltoppers built a 24-21 lead behind a block from
Sidney Keni and Staib before DuPree followed with a service ace. Shippensburg answered with three consecutive points to tie the set at 24-24.
Bogunovich's kill gave West Liberty another set point at 25-24, but Shippensburg scored the next three points to take the opening set 27-25.
West Liberty jumped in front 5-1 early in the second set behind kills from DuPree and Bogunovich and a Birck block. Shippensburg responded with a decisive run, scoring eight straight points to turn a 14-11 deficit into a 19-14 lead before extending the margin to 22-11. The Raiders closed out the set 25-14.
The Hilltoppers remained within striking distance throughout the third set, battling to a 17-17 tie before Shippensburg scored the next three points to gain control. West Liberty fought back to within 24-22 on a DuPree kill and a block following a Natalya Montague attack error, but Clara Wildermuth's kill ended the set 25-22 and sealed the 3-0 victory.
DuPree posted 13 kills, 16 points, 10 digs and two service aces against Shippensburg.
Sidney Keni added 10 kills while hitting .409, and
Dakoda Keni recorded 31 assists and 11 digs. Speake contributed 10 digs and two service aces.
The Hilltoppers finished with 36 kills and a .159 attack percentage against Shippensburg. The Raiders recorded 43 kills and hit .275. Both teams finished with 48 digs, while West Liberty recorded six service aces and four total blocks.
West Liberty returns to action Tuesday when the Hilltoppers travel to Ohio Dominican.
All-Tournament Team
Ava Gainer - Gannon
Abbey Williams - Gannon
Belle DeValle - Fairmont St.
Elena Thompson - Fairmont St.
Camryn Matus - Wheeling
Olivia Weiseman - CAL-U
Jaiden Anderson - Shippensburg
Taylor Haupt - Clarion
Milena Janson - West Virginia St.
Dakoda Keni - West Liberty
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.
