INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University volleyball team won its 20th match this season against West Virginia Wesleyan by a score of 3-1 on Friday night at the Walker Convocation Center. The Yellow Jackets have won their last four matches.

West Virginia State improves to 20-12 overall, 12-3 in the Mountain East Conference with the win. Meanwhile, West Virginia Wesleyan drops to 5-22 on the season, 2-13 in league play with the loss.

Sophomore outside hitter Jenna Dufresne fittingly posted a match-high 20 kills in the 20th victory of the season for the Yellow Jackets. Additionally, she registered a .390 hitting percentage and five block assists. Fellow sophomore outside hitter Gabrielle Bullock did not have as many attempts as Dufresne, but was even more accurate with a .421 hitting percentage alongside eight kills. Defensively, sophomore middle blocker Gabrielle Thompson recorded a game-high seven block assists while adding five kills to her season totals.

The opening set was never in doubt for West Virginia State. The Yellow Jackets flew to an 11-1 lead out of the gates. Three straight kills by three different Yellow Jackets ended the first set promptly, 25-11.

West Virginia Wesleyan surprisingly claimed the second set to snap West Virginia State's three-game sweep streak. The Bobcats scored nine unanswered points in the middle of the set to go up 15-6. They would go on to win it, 25-18.

The third set was a seesaw affair in which the momentum could've swung either way. West Virginia Wesleyan was able to tie the set at 16-all before the Yellow Jackets ran away with it. They went on a 13-2 run in which Dufresne collected four kills. The Yellow Jackets claimed the set by seven points, 25-18.

Up 2-1, the Yellow Jackets decided that they wouldn't waste their time by letting the match go to a fifth set. They won the fourth set convincingly, 25-12. Freshman Tyannna Butler came into the rotation to smash the match-winning kill.

West Virginia State tallied 52 kills, three aces, and 10 blocks to account for 65-of-100 points. The Yellow Jackets recorded a .581 hitting percentage in the opening set and a .393 hitting percentage in the closing set.

WVSU's season finale will take place tomorrow at 5 p.m. against Davis & Elkins. Senior Makala Cook will be honored before the start of West Virginia State's final home game of the 2019 season.