INSTITUTE, W.Va. — West Virginia State (21-9, 14-1 MEC) swept Frostburg State (11-17, 6-9 MEC) in straight sets, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23, at the Walker Convocation Center on Thursday afternoon to advance to the semifinal round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament. All three sets were tightly contested, but WVSU held off Frostburg in each to secure the sweep and knock out the Bobcats.

WVSU's balanced team effort was led by Maureen Mathews, who recorded a match-high 14 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and added two block assists for 15 total points. Hannah Steele also shone with 13 kills, two service aces, and four digs, contributing 15 points. Baby Moleni added 11 kills on a .375 hitting percentage and two block assists, finishing with 12 points. Setter Kiersten Eggleton ran the offense with 40 assists and chipped in 12 digs, a block solo, and a service ace. Defensive leader Morgan Caba had 15 digs and four assists, while Valencia Wilder and McKenna Wiseman each served two aces, with Wiseman also contributing 10 digs.

Frostburg State jumped to an early 6-1 lead, but WVSU fought back behind consecutive service aces from Steele and clutch kills by Mathews to take their first lead at 9-8. The set remained tight, tied at 21-21 late, before WVSU capitalized on a Frostburg error, a kill by Moleni, and a set-clinching ace by Ashlynne Davis to take the set, 25-22.

In the second set, WVSU opened with a 2-0 lead, including a kill from Steele and a service ace from Davis. A dominant stretch led by Wilder, featuring a service ace and two blocks, extended the lead to 8-3, but Frostburg responded to narrow the gap to 8-7. Late in the set, Frostburg closed within a point multiple times, including at 17-16 after a service ace by Devin Brunk. WVSU answered with kills from Mathews and a key service ace by Eggleton, pushing their lead to 20-17. After Frostburg staved off set point at 24-20, WVSU sealed the set, 25-21, on an attack error by Frostburg's Amanda Knieper.

WVSU surged to a 5-1 lead in the third set, fueled by kills from Wilder and Steele. Frostburg responded with a rally, including kills by Dani Kunkle and AJ Thompson, to tie the set at 7-7 and take an 8-7 lead. With the score tied at 19-19, Steele and Wilder delivered crucial kills to put WVSU ahead 22-20. Frostburg made a late push, narrowing the gap to 24-23, but Mathews sealed the match with a decisive kill off an assist from Eggleton, giving WVSU a 25-23 win and a 3-0 sweep.

The Yellow Jackets will face the Concord Mountain Lions at 5:00 p.m. Friday in the MEC Semifinals at the Walker Convocation Center.