CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia State University secured a crucial 3-1 victory over the University of Charleston (WV) on Tuesday night, earning the right to host the Mountain East Conference Tournament. With set scores of 25-20, 25-18, 21-25, and 25-17, the Yellow Jackets improved to 20-9 overall and 14-1 in MEC play, solidifying their position as the conference's top seed.
The match featured standout performances from WVSU's front line, led by Baby Moleni and Maureen Mathews, who recorded 15 kills each. Mathews also contributed three blocks, while Moleni hit an efficient .333. Kiersten Eggleton orchestrated the offense with 46 assists, guiding a balanced attack. Defensively, Morgan Caba anchored the back row with 16 digs, and the team collectively tallied eight blocks to stifle Charleston's hitters.
Charleston (24-7, 12-3 MEC), fought hard, highlighted by a dominant third set where it hit .536 as a team to claim a 25-21 victory. Emma Shepherd led the Golden Eagles with 11 kills and 14.5 points, while setter London Upchurch added 20 assists. However, Charleston struggled with offensive consistency, hitting .000 in two of the four sets.
WVSU claimed the first set with a commanding 25-20 victory. Despite an early deficit, the Yellow Jackets found their rhythm midway through, fueled by strong play from Moleni and Hannah Steele. Moleni's timely kills and Steele's net presence secured critical points. Eggleton contributed key assists, while Caba provided steady defense and service aces.
Charleston capitalized on early attack errors to take a 3-0 lead, but WVSU responded with a 6-0 run, including blocks from Nicole Gartner Custodio and Moleni. Caba's service pressure added two aces during the run, helping WVSU build a 12-8 lead.
Charleston's rally efforts, led by Riley Hoff and Shepherd, fell short due to errors at critical moments. Custodio closed the set with an emphatic kill, giving WVSU a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Yellow Jackets dominated the second set, winning 25-18. Wilder and Moleni led the attack early, with Davis delivering precise serves, including a critical ace. WVSU's blockers frustrated Charleston's hitters, with Wilder and Moleni combining for several key stops.
Eggleton's direction kept the offense balanced, distributing assists to Wilder, Mathews, and Moleni. Errors from Charleston widened the gap, allowing WVSU to cruise to a 15-7 lead. Though Charleston attempted a late push behind Hoff and Shepherd, WVSU sealed the set with a block from Mathews and Custodio.
The 2-0 lead placed WVSU on the brink of victory.
Charleston kept the match alive with a 25-21 third-set victory. The Golden Eagles surged early, led by Shepherd and Selke, building a 6-1 advantage. WVSU chipped away at the lead, tying the set at 11-11 after a service ace by Wiseman.
Charleston regained momentum with kills from Majos and Strong, holding off WVSU's late rally attempts. Despite Johnson's service ace and Wilder's attacks, Charleston's defense, led by blocks from Shepherd and Strong, held firm. Selke delivered the final kill to cut WVSU's lead to 2-1.
WVSU clinched the match with a decisive 25-17 win in the fourth set. After a quick block by Charleston gave the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead, WVSU responded with kills from Steele and Mathews to take control at 6-3.
Charleston's attack faltered with errors, and WVSU capitalized with a balanced offense. Mathews and Moleni dominated at the net, combining for multiple kills and blocks. Johnson's serves and clutch play during a critical stretch extended WVSU's lead to 18-12. Moleni closed the match with consecutive kills, securing the set and the victory.
The win capped WVSU's regular season on a high note, solidifying its position as the MEC's top seed. The Yellow Jackets will begin their quest for their first MEC title on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 5 p.m., when they face Frostburg State in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
