CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia State University women's volleyball team dropped a nonconference match 3-0 to Shepherd University Saturday afternoon in the final match of the WVSU/UC Crossover. The loss drops WVSU to 4-2 on the season, while Shepherd moves to 7-0.
Carmen Pérez led the Yellow Jackets attack with 10 kills and eight digs. Giatta Iquinto had eight kills, Lilly Adkins recorded 12 digs, and Kelsey McKeehan handed out 23 assists.
The Rams raced out to an early 5-0 lead before an Ahaziah Smith kill got the Yellow Jackets on the board. WVSU responded with three straight points to pull within 5-4, aided by two Adkins service aces. Shepherd then went on a 13-3 run to open a 19-8 lead and held off a late WVSU push to win the opening set 25-12.
After Shepherd scored first in the second set, WVSU answered with four straight points to build a 7-3 advantage. The Yellow Jackets held the lead until the Rams pulled ahead 14-13. WVSU remained close, tying the set at 19-19 on a Pérez service ace, but Shepherd scored the final six points to take the set 25-19 and build a 2-0 match lead.
The third set stayed tight early, with WVSU taking a 4-3 lead on the second of back-to-back Audrey Buck service aces. Shepherd answered with a 9-3 run before a Pérez kill made it 12-7. Following a timeout, the Rams went on a 10-3 surge to stretch their lead to 22-10. Consecutive Pérez kills pulled WVSU within 22-12, but Shepherd scored the final three points to claim the set 25-12 and close out the 3-0 match victory.
The Yellow Jackets return to action Friday at the Wheeling Crossover, opening tournament play at 11 a.m. against Gannon University before facing Shippensburg University at 5 p.m. Live video will be available on MEC TV.
