ELKINS, W. Va. – Returning to game action for the first time in nine days, the Davis & Elkins volleyball team picked up a 3-1 victory over West Liberty on Friday night in Mountain East Conference action from The McDonnell Center.
Davis & Elkins (11-5, 5-1 MEC) held off West Liberty (10-11, 2-4 MEC) from building any more momentum by pulling away in the fourth set for the match victory. A 5-0 run in the middle of the fourth set limited any hopes at a comeback for the visiting Hilltoppers as the Senators collected their fifth straight win.
The duo of
Kaitlyn LaCour and
Solei Daniels picked up 13 kills each to power the Senators offense on Friday, while
Lillie Mueller and
Raleighanne Weaver recorded six block assists each.
Sarah Warren distributed the offense with 36 assists while
Kelly Smith held things down defensively with 23 digs.
Caitlin Clarke was the lone player with double-digit kills for West Liberty, accounting for 12, while Mackenzie Sims picked up 28 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Set One: Neither team gained much separation in a closely played first set, but D&E managed to earn the final three points for the 25-22 win. Weaver and LaCour stuffed an attack attempt at the net to seal the set for the Senators.
- Set Two: A kill from Mya Mintschenko made it 7-4 early on and a block from Weaver and Warren pushed the D&E edge to 17-13. A 6-0 run played out for D&E with Smith at the service line and Mintschenko delivered another kill for the set win.
- Set Three: West Liberty responded back to take the lead in the middle of the frame and ended the set on a 6-2 run.
- Set Four: A 5-0 run gave D&E some breathing room, quelling a comeback attempt from WLU. Weaver and LaCour dropped in kills for the final two points of the night.
MATCH NOTES
- Continuing to be strong at the net as a team, Davis & Elkins recorded a season-high 26 block assists in the win.
- Davis & Elkins assisted on 43 of its 47 kills.
- Weaver had posted 14 block assists over the past two contests.
- Daniels continues to produce for D&E, notching her third straight match with 10 or more kills.
- Smith added three more service aces to her ledger tonight and keyed a big run at the service line in the second set.
- Warren handed out 30 or more assists for the seventh time this season.
- Davis & Elkins improved its record to 4-2 in four-set matches this season.
UP NEXT
- Davis & Elkins is back home tomorrow (Saturday, October 19) against 21st-ranked Wheeling. First serve is set for 3:00 PM from The McDonnell Center.
