By: Caitie Smith, Assistant Sports Information Director
INSTITUTE, W.VA. – West Virginia State Volleyball prepares for a split week ahead, hosting Glenville State Tuesday before heading north to Buckhannon for a Friday matchup with West Virginia Wesleyan.
Both matches are slated for a 7 p.m. first serve, and both matches can be viewed live stats and streaming links provided.
THE SCOOP ON STATE
The Yellow Jackets enter the week with a 23-3 clip, and are tied for a league-best record at 11-1.
State has won 14 straight sets, dating back to their final two comeback frames against North Division leaders Wheeling, and have registered sweeps in 10 of their 12 conference matches.
NATIONALLY RANKED
Senior Jenna Dufresne's 350 kills ranks 12th-best in the country, and her 4.47 kills per set ranks her seventh nationally. Classmate Grace Martin also boasts national rankings, with 108 total blocks that is eighth-best. As a team, State's 2.62 blocks per set is fifth best in the country, and the squad's .279 hitting percentage ranks sixth.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Glenville carries a 2-16 record into Tuesday as they seek their first conference win of the season. Junior outside Karlei Shaver leads the team offensively with 129 total kills, and is coming off a season-best outing against Alderson Broaddus, where she tallied 22 slams.
Senior Skylar Mace tops the team at the net game with 25 blocks, and Shaver also leads the team with 117 digs.
Last meeting: State swept the Pioneers in Glenville in early October, and were led by Dufresne's 11 kills. Senior Gabrielle Bullock fell one kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 12 digs.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
WV Wesleyan enters the week at 3-18 on the year, but faces Concord Tuesday on the road before hosting the Yellow Jackets Friday. The sophomore duo of Michela Ayers and Lexis Tatum lead the Bobcats, with 115 and 112 kills, respectively.
Junior Joelle Lalla boasts a team-best 66 rejections, and sophomore Autumn Molenhouse leads the way with 204 digs, averaging 3.04 per set.
Last meeting: State took down Wesleyan in straight sets on their Senior Night in early October, with a pair of above .500 hitting-percentage performances from Dufresne and Martin.
UP NEXT
A huge South Division showdown sits on tap for WVSU next week, as the Yellow Jackets host Davis & Elkins on Tuesday, Nov. 9., before finishing the regular season with cross-town rivals Charleston on Friday, Nov. 12.
