BUCKHANNON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Wesleyan volleyball team (5-3) dropped a match against West Virginia State (6-1) on Friday (Feb. 26) night at the Rockefeller Center in Buckhannon, W.Va.
 
WVWC Leaders
Lexis Tatum was the lone Bobcat with double-digit kills. The freshman had eleven kills against the Yellow Jackets. Anaya Hyman added nine kills to the WVWC attack.
 
Setter Payton Hefner racked up 20 assists and smashed two service aces. Senior Emily Doyle led the Bobcats with 13 digs. Lauryn Antolock recorded two block solos.
 
West Virginia State Leaders
Jenna Dufresne led the offensive attack for the Yellow Jackets. The outside hitter from Bedford, Ind. pounded 17 kills. Peri Martin dished out 34 assists. Grace Martin had two service aces.
 
Defensively, Dufresne led WVSU with 13 digs. West Virginia State controlled the net and had 13.0 total blocks. Gabrielle Thompson accumulated seven block assists for the Yellow Jackets.
 
Inside the First Set
Hefner kicked the match off with a service ace. The Bobcats took a 13-10 lead after a kill from Michela Ayers. WVSU won the next four points and took a 14-13 lead. With the score tied at 17, the Yellow Jackets went on a 5-0 run and captured a 22-17 lead. West Virginia State claimed the first set, 25-19.
 
Inside the Second Set
The 'Cats jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the beginning of the second set. West Virginia State reclaimed the lead at 10-9. WVWC tied the set at 20 after a kill from Lexis Tatum. The two teams traded the next four points to even the score at 22. The Yellow Jackets closed out the second set and won the last three points behind two kills from Dufresne. WVSU won set two 25-22.
 
Inside the Third Set
Again, Hefner opened a set with a service ace. Wesleyan held a 5-3 lead when WVSU went on a 3-0 run to take a 6-5 lead. The Bobcats tied the score three separate times in the third set, the last being 13-13. But West Virginia State fended off a Wesleyan comeback and went on a 12-4 run to win the final set 25-17.
 
Up Next
West Virginia Wesleyan volleyball is scheduled to travel to Athens, W.Va. on Tuesday (March 2) for a match against Concord. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. first serve.