Wheeling, W.Va. – West Virginia State split a pair of matches at the Wheeling/West Liberty Invitational on Saturday, rallying past Clarion in five sets before falling in straight sets to California (Pa.). The Yellow Jackets moved to 4-4 overall on the season.

In the opener, WVSU outlasted Clarion, 3–2, by set scores of 25–23, 24–26, 19–25, 25–15 and 15–9. The Jackets hit .212 as a team with 61 kills on 184 swings while collecting 57 assists, 10 aces, 75 digs and 13.0 total blocks. Alyssa Hill led the way with 17 kills, while Giatta Iquinto followed with 14 kills and 15 digs. Nicole Gartner Custodio was a force at the net with 10 blocks to go along with 9 kills. Emma Pomaret dished out 49 assists and added 9 digs, and Lilly Adkins anchored the back row with 21 digs.

In the nightcap, WVSU fell to California (Pa.) 3–0 by set scores of 25–22, 25–18 and 25–22. The Jackets finished with 38 kills on 120 attempts for a .183 percentage, adding 37 assists, 6 aces, 59 digs and 6.0 total blocks. Inka Oksanen paced the attack with 11 kills on .320 hitting, while Custodio chipped in 9 kills and 3 blocks. Pomaret handed out 33 assists and added 7 digs, and Adkins again led the defense with 19 digs.

State will play two more Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference teams in Gannon and Shippensburg Saturday, Sept. 20. The Yellow Jackets will tilt with the Golden Knights at 1:00 p.m. then tangle with the Raiders at 4:00 p.m.