West Virginia State Defeats Charleston in Three Sets to End Regular Season

West Virginia State defeated the University of Charleston in three sets on Thursday night to close out the regular season.

The loss at the Wehrle Center leaves the University of Charleston with a 17-13 overall record and a 9-7 mark in Mountain East Conference play, according to UC Sports.

While the defeat ends their regular season on a low note, the Golden Eagles have already secured their position in the postseason. They have claimed the 3rd seed in the South Division for the Mountain East Conference Tournament.

The match was defined by narrow margins and momentum shifts that favored the Yellow Jackets in the critical moments of each set.

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The opening set proved to be a battle of attrition. West Virginia State established a lead during the middle of the set, which Charleston attempted to erase with a late 3-0 run. Despite that push, the Yellow Jackets held on to take the first set 25-23.

The second set was even more volatile, characterized by constant shifts in control. The teams saw fifteen tied scores and six different lead changes throughout the frame. Charleston managed a 4-0 run, but West Virginia State responded immediately with a 5-0 scoring burst.

After the Golden Eagles answered with another 4-0 run, the score sat deadlocked at 23-23. West Virginia State then scored the final two points to secure the set 25-23.

The momentum from the second set carried directly into the third. The Yellow Jackets took an early lead and maintained control for the remainder of the match, finishing the third set 25-17.

Individual performances for Charleston included:

Patrycja Majos, who recorded 12 kills.
Erin Lowe, who collected 16 assists.
Sahana Rajesh, who led the match with 15 digs.

The regular season conclusion serves as a transition point for the program. Rather than focusing on the loss to West Virginia State, the Golden Eagles must now prepare for the high-stakes environment of the MEC Tournament.

The team's 3rd seed placement ensures they can compete for the South Division title. Their next challenge requires a trip to Fairmont, West Virginia, where they will face Wheeling University in the Quarterfinal Round.

The quarterfinal match is scheduled for 11:30 am.