Box Score FAIRMONT, W.Va. — West Liberty University volleyball battled back from a four-point deficit in the third set Friday night but Fairmont State held on for a 3-0 Mountain East Conference victory at Joe Retton Arena. Set scores were 25-17, 25-11 and 27-25.

The Hilltoppers finished with 29 kills and hit .061 for the match, while Fairmont State recorded 37 kills and a .242 hitting percentage. West Liberty's best offensive stretch came in the third set, when the Hilltoppers produced 14 kills and hit .200 before Fairmont State closed out the match.

Sidney Keni led the Hilltoppers with 10 kills and added a block assist. Julia Birck contributed seven kills, while Adrienne Staib added six kills on nine attacks while hitting .556.

Dakoda Keni finished with 28 assists, while Taylor Speake recorded a team-high 12 digs and four service aces. Keni also added two digs and a service ace.

Fairmont State held a 5-1 advantage in total blocks and finished with nine service aces compared to seven for West Liberty. The Falcons also held a 37-35 edge in digs.

West Liberty mounted its strongest push of the opening set after Fairmont State took a 12-7 lead. Kills from Staib and Sidney Keni, along with a pair of Fairmont State errors, helped the Hilltoppers pull within one at 13-12.

The Falcons answered with four straight points to regain control before closing the set, 25-17.

Fairmont State then used a 12-0 run in the second set to turn a 9-4 advantage into a 21-4 lead. Birck recorded three kills during West Liberty's response, while Speake followed with consecutive service aces, but the Falcons finished off the set, 25-11.

The Hilltoppers saved their best effort for the third set.

Trailing 24-20, West Liberty rallied behind a Birck kill, back-to-back Speake service aces and a Fairmont State attack error to pull even at 24-24. The teams traded points to 25-25 before the Falcons scored the final two points to secure the 27-25 victory and complete the sweep.

West Liberty returns home Tuesday night when the Hilltoppers host Point Park. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex.




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.