WVU Mountaineer Sports: Basketball | Football | News |Volleyball: WVU Readies for Second Road Trip

The West Virginia University volleyball team returns to action this weekend as it travels to Lexington, Ky., for the University of Kentucky Invitational Sept. 9-10.

The Mountaineers are set to play Houston and Loyola Marymount on Friday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, before taking on tournament host Kentucky on Saturday at 5 p.m.

WVU is now 2-6 on the season after going 0-3 this past week in Texas. The Mountaineers fell to Texas-San Antonio 3-0 (21-25, 10-25, 14-25), Texas State 3-0 (16-25, 21-25, 19-25) and Baylor 3-0 (14-25, 19-25, 20-25).

Freshman middle blocker Evyn McCoy led the team with 18 kills for a .256 hitting percentage and also posted six total blocks. Defensively, the team was led by senior libero Serinna Russo who recorded 47 digs and two service aces. Russo is currently ranked No. 2 in the BIG EAST in digs with 149 and No. 5 in digs per set with 5.32. As a team, WVU is ranked No. 2 in digs with 480 and No. 3 in digs per set with 17.14.  

Houston is now 4-2 this season after finishing 1-2 at the State Farm Classic last weekend. Redshirt senior Lucky Charuk was named to the all-tournament team after recording 32 kills, a .346 hitting percentage, 14 blocks and three service aces.

The Lions are led by senior Jasmine Rankin who has recorded 75 kills, 12 service aces and 46 digs this season. Loyola Marymount is 4-2 on the season after going 2-1 at the Active Ankle Challenge in which the team swept Seattle and CSU Bakersfield before losing to host Oregon State.

Kentucky is coming off its fourth straight sweep of the season after defeating in-state rival Louisville 3-0 Wednesday night. The Wildcats are now 6-2 after winning the Kentucky Classic this past weekend where they defeated Western Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia Tech. Junior libero Stephanie Klefot was named tournament MVP and SEC Defensive player of the week after recording 45 digs and five service aces at the classic.

The Mountaineers are 2-2 all-time against this weekend's opponents. WVU will face Loyola Marymount for the first time in school history, while it is 2-1 against Kentucky and 0-1 against Houston.