COLUMBUS, Ohio – The West Liberty University volleyball team will face one of its toughest challenges of the young season Tuesday night when the Hilltoppers travel to Ohio Dominican for a 7 p.m. match at Alumni Hall.

West Liberty enters the matchup at 1-12 overall, while Ohio Dominican is off to an 8-2 start. The Panthers have won their last two matches, including a five-set victory over Hillsdale on Saturday.

The Hilltoppers are looking to bounce back after dropping four matches at the West Liberty Invitational over the weekend. West Liberty battled both Gannon and Shippensburg in stretches on Saturday, including a 27-25 opening-set loss to Shippensburg.
Sophomore Amira DuPree continues to pace the Hilltoppers offensively. DuPree has recorded 123 kills through 43 sets, averaging 2.86 kills per set, while also contributing 123 digs, 13 blocks and 11 service aces.

Sophomore Sidney Keni has added 80 kills and is hitting a team-best .170 among West Liberty's primary attackers, while junior Julia Birck has been a force at the net with 30 blocks, including 11 solo stops.

Senior Dakoda Keni has handled the majority of the setting duties, totaling 234 assists and averaging 5.44 assists per set. Taylor Speake leads the Hilltoppers defensively with 112 digs, an average of 3.86 per set.

As a team, West Liberty has collected 437 kills and 605 digs through 43 sets. The Hilltoppers are averaging 14.1 digs per set and have recorded 62 service aces.

Ohio Dominican enters Tuesday's match with a potent offensive attack. The Panthers have recorded 486 kills through 35 sets and are hitting .212 as a team, compared to a .138 attack percentage for their opponents. Ohio Dominican is averaging 13.9 kills and 12.9 assists per set.

The Panthers have also been effective from the service line, recording 88 aces for an average of 2.5 per set. Defensively, Ohio Dominican is averaging 15.0 digs and 1.4 blocks per set.
Logan Rubel leads the Panthers with 105 kills and 3.28 kills per set, while Annie Fincham has added 86 kills and is hitting .297. Taylor Thiery is hitting .354 with 51 kills, while Ava Horn leads the team with a .365 attack percentage among players with significant attempts.

Setter Tess Hayes has directed the Ohio Dominican offense with 282 assists, an average of 8.29 per set. Lauren Dinunzi leads the Panthers with 128 digs, while Rubel has added 88 digs and 14 service aces.

The Panthers have been particularly strong at home, where they are 6-0 this season. Ohio Dominican's two losses have come against Alabama-Huntsville and Fairmont State, while the Panthers have earned wins over Christian Brothers, Trevecca
Nazarene, Wilmington, West Virginia Wesleyan, D'Youville, Shawnee State, Northwood and Hillsdale.

Tuesday's match marks the final tuneup for West Liberty before the Hilltoppers open Mountain East Conference play Friday, when they return home to host Charleston at the ASRC. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
 


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.