WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. - - UVa-Wise dropped its match against the Hilltoppers of West Liberty University Saturday afternoon, 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-15).

Sophomore Madelyn Lawrence led the Cavs in kills with eight and a .444 hitting percentage along with three blocks. Freshman Kelsey Green had six kills with 14 digs while sophomore Makayla Ledford registered 20 assists in the match. Junior Morgan Milligan recorded 15 digs and added three assists.

UVa-Wise (5-22, 2-11 MEC) fell behind early as West Liberty (21-8, 9-4 MEC) jumped out to a 5-2 start. The Cavs would close the gap, down 9-7, before the Hilltoppers would pull ahead to a 17-10 advantage later in the set. West Liberty would capitalize off of an 8-1 run to close out the first set with a 25-12 win.

The Hilltoppers carried their momentum into the second set, claiming a five-point lead, 8-3. UVa-Wise would use a 4-1 run to get within one point on a kill by Lawrence, 17-16. West Liberty would maintain its lead, but the Cavs would keep it close with a service error by the Hilltoppers putting West Liberty on top by just one point, 23-22, later in the set. Another kill by Lawrence would put the score at 24-23 late in the set before a kill by the Hilltoppers closed out the second set with a 25-23 victory for West Liberty.

West Liberty pulled ahead to a 9-3 advantage to get the third set started. UVa-Wise would get within one point of the Hilltoppers on a 7-1 run with the Cavs down, 12-11. West Liberty would respond with its own run to claim a 18-11 lead later in the set. A series of attack errors by the Cavs would extend the Hilltoppers lead to 22-13 as West Liberty went on to earn a 25-15 set three win, posting a 3-0 victory over the Cavs.

UVa-Wise notched 26 kills and 26 assists alongside 45 digs. West Liberty had 47 kills and 47 assists with 58 digs in the Hilltoppers' win.

Volleyball will now return home for their Senior Night on Oct. 30 against Concord University. The Cavs final home game of the season inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.