GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Volleyball team fell in a five-set thriller, 3-2, to West Virginia Wesleyan tonight (Oct. 6) at the Waco Center. The Pioneers move to (9-9) overall and (2-4) in the Mountain East Conference play.
West Virginia Wesleyan gained control early in the opening set, building an 11-5 advantage before extending its lead to 14-6.
Deniz Selen Yazar supplied four kills in the frame, while
Juliana Nunez and
Gracie Brown helped the Pioneers generate offense down the stretch. Glenville trimmed the deficit to 23-18, but consecutive Bobcat kills closed out the set. Wesleyan recorded 17 kills on a .429 hitting percentage to take the early match lead. The Pioneers responded with a commanding performance in the second set. Trailing 5-4, Glenville rattled off six consecutive points, including two Nunez service aces and a Brown kill to move ahead 10-5. Another five-point surge stretched the advantage to 15-6 as
Shyanne Hays and Brown contributed kills and Brown teamed with
Ryann Landis for a block. Glenville continued to pull away, holding Wesleyan to a -.189 hitting percentage and finishing the frame with four straight points. A Brown kill secured the 25-12 victory to even the match.
Glenville carried that momentum into the third set, breaking a 9-9 tie with five unanswered points. Nunez supplied a kill during the run, while Landis contributed a solo block and combined with
Mylani Jackson for another stop at the net. Wesleyan twice cut the margin to one, including at 20-19, but the Pioneers answered with three consecutive points to regain breathing room. Leading 23-21, Glenville received back-to-back kills from Jackson and Nunez to claim the set 25-21 and take a 2-1 match lead. The Bobcats jumped ahead 7-2 in the fourth set, forcing the Pioneers to battle from behind. Glenville worked its way back within one at 8-7 and again at 15-14, but Wesleyan maintained its advantage. Facing a 21-16 deficit, Nunez delivered a kill followed by consecutive service aces to bring the Pioneers within two. The blue and white later fought off two set points to make it 24-22 before a service error gave Wesleyan the frame and forced a deciding fifth set.
In the final set, Wesleyan broke a 3-3 tie with four consecutive points. Glenville answered with a kill from Selen Yazar and back-to-back Brown kills to narrow the gap to 7-6. The Bobcats regained separation, eventually moving ahead 13-7, but the Pioneers mounted another rally. Four unanswered points, highlighted by a
Mikayla Curry service ace and a Nunez kill, cut the deficit to 13-11. Wesleyan captured the final two points to seal the match.
Final Stats
West Virginia Wesleyan
Bhrooke Axe led the Bobcats with 17 kills and a match-high five blocks. MacKenna Halfin added 13 kills and 14 digs, while Emily Denison finished with 12 kills, 17 digs, three blocks and two service aces. Mia Myers distributed 26 assists, followed by Liliana Beckstedt with 25. Emonie Fennell contributed 15 digs. Wesleyan finished with 58 kills, 76 digs, eight blocks and six service aces, hitting .150 for the match.
Glenville State
Gracie Brown paced the Pioneers with a match-high 18 kills and added 10 digs.
Juliana Nunez also logged 16 kills and 11 digs, along with a match-high six service aces.
Mylani Jackson contributed seven kills on a .353 hitting percentage, while
Deniz Selen Yazar finished with five kills on eight attempts without an error, hitting .625.
Irmak Bezek directed the offense with 44 assists and added nine digs.
Kassie Swink led the defense with 18 digs,
Brenan Harvey added 11, and
Ryann Landis supplied a team-high four blocks. The Pioneers totaled 53 kills, 65 digs, five blocks and 10 service aces, hitting .153.
Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers return to the Waco Center on Friday (Oct. 9) to host West Liberty in Mountain East Conference action. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
