SALEM, W.Va. – West Virginia State University swept Salem University 3-0 (25-18, 25-8, 25-11) in their final non-conference volleyball match of the regular season at T. Edward Davis Gymnasium on Friday evening. The victory improves the Yellow Jackets to 14-9 overall, while Salem falls to 5-19.

WVSU controlled the match from the start, hitting .417 as a team with 39 kills and eight service aces. Key contributors included Baby Moleni, who led the Yellow Jackets with 10 kills on a stellar .667 hitting percentage, and Maureen Mathews, who added 10 kills while hitting .474. Setter Kiersten Eggleton directed the offense with 31 assists, six digs, and two service aces.

In the opening set, WVSU hit .333 with 15 kills. Salem kept the score tight early, but the Yellow Jackets pulled away with strong play at the net, highlighted by kills from Moleni and Mathews. Eggleton added a service ace, and Nicole Gartner Custodio contributed a block, helping WVSU close the set on a 11-2 run.

The second set was all WVSU, as they hit an impressive .455 with 11 kills while holding Salem to a negative hitting percentage (-.185). Wilder and Morgan Caba combined for three aces, while the Yellow Jackets' front line forced multiple attack errors from Salem. WVSU's defense limited Salem to just three kills in the set.

WVSU sealed the sweep with a dominant performance in the third set, hitting .500 with 13 kills and no attack errors. Wilder added two more kills and another block, while Eggleton's distribution kept Salem off balance. A late block from Eggleton capped the sweep.

WVSU's defense was also on point throughout the match, recording 44 digs. Steele and Ashlynne Davis led the back row with nine and seven digs, respectively. Salem struggled offensively, finishing with 18 kills but committing 20 attack errors, resulting in a -.022 hitting percentage.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action on Saturday, October 26, when they travel to face Point Park University at The Student Center Gym in Pittsburgh, Pa.