SKOFJA LOKA, Slovenia  – Payton Caffrey and Mia Swanegan led the way as the West Virginia University volleyball team recorded a 3-0 sweep of the Slovenian Junior National Team in Skofja Loka, Slovenia, on Saturday evening.

 

WVU moves to 3-1 on its international tour, also notching wins against Italy’s Busto Arsizio and the Austrian National Team.

 

Caffrey head a team-best 12 kills in the win, adding five digs as well. Swanegan finished with a team-best five blocks. Erin Slinde recorded a pair of service aces, while Gianna Gotterba and Taylor Cross tied for the team lead in digs with six each.

 

“Slovenia may be young, but it’s an incredibly talented team,” WVU coach Reed Sunahara said. “They qualified for the World Championships in Argentina in September, so we can learn a lot from this experience.”

 

The Mountaineers scored five straight to start the match, and went on to win the first set 25-14. Caffrey notched six of WVU’s 16 kills in the frame. Montgomery and Swanegan each posted a block, while Erin Slinde registered a pair of service aces. Caffrey also led the squad with three digs.

 

Overcoming a rocky start, West Virginia rallied to claim the second set by a score of 25-21 for a 2-0 lead in the match. Caffrey again led the way with four kills, totaling 10 in the first two sets. She joined Swanegan and Levak in sharing the lead with a block apiece, as Caffrey and Levak teamed up for the set-winning stop. Slinde, Levak and Gabrielle Cuckovich each notched an ace, while Gotterba led the team with four digs.

 

West Virginia dominated the start of the third set, but allowed a late 10-point run by Slovenia. However, the Mountaineers prevailed with a 25-16 win to claim the match 3-0. Levak and Evans each put up four kills, while Swanegen posted a trio of blocks. Cross led the way with a trio of digs.