After finishing the 2019 campaign with a record of 17-15, the West Liberty University Women’s Volleyball team looks forward to the new beginnings the 2020-21 season hopes to bring. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has without a doubt given the women’s volleyball team unprecedented adversity throughout the past year, the team looks forward to pushing on with many familiar faces. One prominent familiar face is senior middle blocker Madison Clayton, from Roseville, Ohio. At six-foot-five, Clayton is without a doubt one of the primary anchors West Liberty looks to rally around. Her incredible height and athletic ability is one of West Liberty’s strengths, and one in which they hope to exploit against opposing teams. This small senior class also brings spotlight to senior outside hitter Emily Reedy, from Grosse Ile, Michigan. Standing at five-foot-six Reedy is known for her defensive specialties and is yet another key player vital to the team’s success. Finally, five-foot-seven senior setter Renee Lemke, out of Centerburg, Ohio, looks to make major strides this season, all while hoping to cement herself as a prominent team captain. To round out the junior class, six-foot outside hitter Jenna Caskey, and five-foot-eleven middle blocker Mackenzie Daub, look to play important support roles to aid West Liberty’s success.
With upwards of ten underclassmen, the West Liberty Women’s volleyball team is primed to use their youth this season as a building block for years to come. These underclassmen include five-foot-eleven middle blocker Nina Billotto, five-foot-eleven setter Kirsten Bogunovich, five-foot-eight defensive specialist Faith Hayes, five-foot-ten outside hitter Ashton Wronikowski, five-foot-eight outside hitter Katelynn Fritz, five-foot-five setter Laura Gamel, five-foot-six libero Nyia Setla, six-foot-one right side Braidyn Reed, five-foot-nine outside Hitter Kaija Sydlowsk, and five-foot-ten middle blocker Ruby Countryman.
Head Coach Riley Schenk is undoubtedly excited for the season opener, with the team’s first five matchups coming from Notre Dame College of Ohio, Alderson Broaddus University, Fairmont State University, Frostburg State University, and Notre Dame College of Ohio once more. Although the Mountain East Conference does not allow fan attendance during meets, Hilltopper fans are without a doubt excited to see the West Liberty Women’s volleyball team take action starting on Feb. 2.