WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — West Virginia State fell in four sets to West Liberty on Thursday night inside the Academic, Sports and Recreation Complex. The Yellow Jackets dropped the match 3–1 by scores of 22–25, 25–19, 24–26 and 21–25.

Carmen Perez led the WVSU attack with 16 kills and 11 digs for her 11th double-double of the season. Senior middle blocker Nicole Gartner Custodio added 13 kills, five blocks and a .407 hitting percentage, while setter Kelsey McKeehan distributed 39 assists and chipped in nine digs. Libero Lilly Adkins anchored the back row with a team-high 22 digs, and Emma Pomaret served three aces to match her career best.

As a team, State (12–11, 6–5 MEC) hit .135 with 54 kills, eight aces and 72 digs. West Liberty (15–11, 7–3 MEC) countered with 54 kills of its own and a .180 hitting clip, led by Ashley Cudnik's 22 kills and Dakoda Keni's 45 assists.

West Liberty used a late 6–2 run to erase a WVSU lead and take the opening set, 25–22. The Yellow Jackets responded in the second frame behind balanced hitting from Custodio and Perez, claiming a 25–19 win to even the match. In the third set, State rallied from 24–19 down to tie it at 24–24 before the Hilltoppers closed the frame, 26–24. West Liberty capitalized on early serving runs in the fourth to stay in control and seal the match, 25–21.

West Virginia State returns home to the Walker Convocation Center on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. to face Glenville State in another Mountain East Conference matchup.