West Liberty, W.Va. — West Virginia State (5-6) dropped a heartbreaker five-set ordeal to Clarion (4-3) in the first match of the Atlanic Regional Crossover held at West Liberty University on Friday, but rebounded and swept Slippery Rock (6-4) in the nightcap. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak the Yellow Jackets were on, but State has now won five of their last six matches.

Match One: Clarion 3, West Virginia State 2 (27-25, 28-30, 24-26, 25-21, 15-12)

The first set was an early indication of how competitive the match would be, as both teams exchanged points throughout. Clarion jumped out to a quick 9-6 lead behind a strong offensive start, but WVSU responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead, capitalizing on several Clarion errors. The teams continued to battle, with Clarion managing to tie the set at 24-24. Despite WVSU's efforts, Clarion closed out the set 27-25 after a crucial kill by Cassidy Snider and a Yellow Jacket attack error.

WVSU bounced back with resilience in the second set, which became a marathon contest. Clarion initially led 18-15 before WVSU made a comeback, fueled by key kills from the trio of Moleni, Mathews, and Steele. A pair of attack errors by Clarion helped WVSU even the score at 24-24, and the set extended beyond the usual 25 points. In extra points, WVSU fought off multiple set points and finally clinched the set 30-28 with a decisive kill by Moleni, followed by a pair of Clarion attack errors.

The momentum carried over into the third set, with WVSU pulling ahead early with a 7-3 lead, thanks to the offensive consistency of Steele and Moleni. Clarion rallied to close the gap, but the Yellow Jackets maintained their composure. Mathews came through with timely kills, while Kiersten Eggleton distributed the ball effectively to keep Clarion off-balance. WVSU sealed the set 26-24 with back-to-back points, with a Moleni kill and a Clarion attack error.

Clarion responded with urgency in the fourth set, aiming to extend the match. They quickly built a 10-6 lead, and despite a push from WVSU that tied the score at 14-14, Clarion regained control behind Snider's powerful hitting. The Yellow Jackets struggled to contain Clarion's attack and couldn't generate enough momentum late in the set. Clarion pulled away to win 25-21, forcing a decisive fifth set.

The fifth set was a tense, back-and-forth affair with both teams exchanging leads early on. WVSU held a slim 8-7 advantage at the switch, but Clarion quickly went on a 4-1 run to take a 12-9 lead. Despite a late surge by WVSU that closed the gap to 13-12, Clarion finished the match with two straight points, winning 15-12 to claim the match 3-2.

Hannah Steele led WVSU with 14 kills and 18 digs, providing consistency on both sides of the ball throughout the match. Baby Moleni was also a standout with a team-high 16 kills and added 6 digs. Maureen Mathews contributed 12 kills and was a force at the net with 11 digs and a block. Setter Kiersten Eggleton facilitated the offense with 44 assists and added 11 digs, while libero Morgan Caba anchored the defense with a match-high 19 digs.

Match Two: West Virginia State 3, Slippery Rock 0 (26-24, 25-14, 25-18)

The first set was closely contested, with neither team able to pull away early. Slippery Rock took a 16-12 lead midway through the set, but WVSU fought back with a 6-0 run, highlighted by kills from Steele, Custodio, and Mathews. Slippery Rock kept the set close, tying it at 24-24, but the Yellow Jackets held their nerve. A kill by Moleni gave WVSU set point, and a State service ace for Ashlynne Davis sealed the set for WVSU, 26-24.

WVSU carried the momentum into the second set, dominating from the start. The Yellow Jackets quickly built a 10-5 lead, with Eggleton distributing the ball efficiently to her hitters during a 5-0 run. State then exploded for a 9-1 run while the WVSU defense stifled Slippery Rock's attack, holding them to a .029 hitting percentage. WVSU cruised to a comfortable 25-14 win, taking full control of the match.

In the final set, Slippery Rock attempted to regroup but struggled to overcome WVSU's balanced attack. The Yellow Jackets took an early 8-4 lead and maintained it throughout the set, thanks in part to a block from Wilder and Mathews. Timely digs from Caba helped to keep Slippery Rock off the scoreboard. Slippery Rock got as close as 15-10, but WVSU responded with a runs fo 3-0 and 4-0 to regain control. The match ended on a kill by Mathews, as WVSU completed the sweep with a 25-18 victory.

Hannah Steele once again led the offense with 14 kills and added 6 digs. Maureen Mathews had another strong performance, tallying 13 kills and 9 digs. Setter Kiersten Eggleton was pivotal with 26 assists and 9 digs, keeping the offense flowing smoothly. She also added a service ace which moves her into second place all-time at WVSU with 142 service aces. She surpassed Jennifer Paswaters who is now third with 141. Morgan Caba continued to be a defensive anchor, collecting 18 digs, while Valencia Wilder contributed 6 kills and 4 blocks to round out a balanced team effort.

West Virginia State will return to action on September 21 at 1 p.m. when they face Gannon as part of the Atlantic Region Crossover.