GLENVILLE, W.Va. - The Glenville State Volleyball team battled back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat West Liberty in five sets tonight (Oct. 9) at the Waco Center for the GSU's first win over the Hilltoppers since 2008. The Pioneers earned the Mountain East Conference victory, improving to (10-9) overall and (3-4) in MEC play.
West Liberty opened the match with five consecutive points, but Glenville State answered to take a 9–8 lead.
Deniz Selen Yazar supplied two kills during a five-point Pioneer run that erased an 8-4 deficit. The teams remained close through an 11-11 tie before the Hilltoppers began creating separation, building a 16-12 advantage. Despite kills from
Gracie Brown,
Kendel Harris, and
Ryann Landis down the stretch, West Liberty secured the opening set, 25-19. The Pioneers responded with a strong start in the second set, jumping ahead 6-1 behind kills from
Madison Lowe,
Mylani Jackson, and Harris, along with a block from Landis. West Liberty worked its way back into the set and eventually took a 14-12 lead, setting up a back-and-forth finish. Jackson put Glenville State ahead 24-23 with a kill before the Hilltoppers tied the score. A West Liberty service error gave the Pioneers another set point, and Selen Yazar delivered the closing kill to seal a 26-24 victory.
West Liberty regained control in the third, using a five-point run to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 7-3 lead. The Hilltoppers later stretched their advantage to 14-7 and maintained their cushion throughout the set. Glenville State continued fighting, receiving late kills from
Juliana Nunez, Landis, and
Madison Lee, but West Liberty took the frame, 25-20, to move ahead 2-1. Facing elimination, the Pioneers produced their strongest offensive set of the night in the fourth, hitting .308 with 12 kills. Trailing 12-8, Glenville State rattled off 12 consecutive points to surge ahead 20-12.
Elitsa Peneva served during much of the run, while Brown contributed four kills and a service ace during the rally. The Pioneers carried that momentum to a 25-18 victory, forcing a decisive fifth set.
West Liberty took an early 3-0 lead in the fifth and later pushed its advantage to 10-6. Glenville State answered with seven straight points, highlighted by three Nunez kills, a Selen Yazar block, and a Landis service ace. Selen Yazar added consecutive kills to cap the run and give the Pioneers a 13-10 lead. After the Hilltoppers pulled within 14-12, Selen Yazar finished the match with a kill off an assist from
Irmak Bezek.
Final Stats
West Liberty
Amira DuPree led the Hilltoppers with a match-high 17 kills and added 14 digs. Sidney Keni and Giana Bogunovich each contributed nine kills, while Adrienne Staib and Dakoda Keni finished with eight apiece. Dakoda Keni directed the offense with 40 assists, while Taylor Speake led the defense with 17 digs. Lily Brinker recorded three service aces, and Sidney Keni added three blocks. West Liberty finished with 58 kills, 51 assists, 68 digs, six blocks, and seven service aces, hitting .191.
Glenville State
Gracie Brown paced the Pioneers with 12 kills and nine digs, while
Deniz Selen Yazar recorded 11 kills, eight digs, two blocks, and two service aces.
Ryann Landis contributed seven kills and two blocks, while
Mylani Jackson added seven kills.
Madison Lee supplied 23 assists, seven digs, and two service aces, followed by
Irmak Bezek with 11 assists and
Elitsa Peneva with eight.
Kassie Swink anchored the defense with a match-high 24 digs. Glenville State totaled 53 kills, 48 assists, 66 digs, six blocks, and seven service aces, hitting .160.
Up Next For The Pioneers
The Pioneers close their three-match homestand tomorrow (Oct. 10), hosting Wheeling at the Waco Center. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m.
