WEST LIBERTY — West Liberty University has announced that head volleyball coach Riley Jarrett will step down from her current role with the Hilltoppers, effective immediately, as she accepts the same position at NCAA Division I Youngstown State University.

“It is a bittersweet feeling for me leaving our West Liberty volleyball program as I head to the next level,” said Jarrett. “We have worked tirelessly to build the WLU volleyball program up and I am proud of the way I have left it. I want to thank my current and past players for all their hard work and commitment to our overall vision of WLUVB. Without them, this program would not be where it is today.”

Jarrett took over the helm of the West Liberty team in 2020 and continued to elevate a program that was on the rise since the creation of the Mountain East Conference.

With the aid of three 20-plus win seasons, which tied for the most by a coach in WLU volleyball history, she led the Hilltoppers to a record of 72-40 while also ranking second in program history in win percentage at 64.3 percent.

In conference play she posted a 38-18 mark as WLU finished second in the league’s north division one time, facing off against Wheeling in the final game of the 2023 regular season for a share of the division title on the line.

In the postseason her teams advanced to the semifinals of the MEC Tournament on three occasions (2021, 2022, and 2023), leading to the biggest achievement of her WLU tenure with the school’s first-ever selection to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and then leading them back for a second straight trip in 2023.

“On behalf of the entire athletic department, we would like to thank Coach Jarrett for her commitment and dedication to the WLU volleyball program,” said interim athletic director Brad Forshey. “She has taken the program to historic levels, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. We wish her the best of luck on her future endeavors at Youngstown State.”

During her time on the hilltop, Jarrett coached nine athletes to All-MEC honors, including Madison Clayton, Nyia Setla, and Ruby Countryman who all secured first team recognition during their careers. Additionally, Setla earned back-to-back MEC Libero of the Year accolades in 2022 and 2023.

Another historic milestone over her four seasons came as she mentored the first two All-Americans in program history as Madison Clayton earned Honorable Mention All-American honors through the AVCA and D2CCA in 2021, while Nya Setla was a two-time All-American with third team recognition by the D2CCA in 2022 and honorable mention recognition by the AVCA in 2023.

“I want to thank the entire administration at WLU for taking a chance on me a few years back and trusting in me to start my head coaching career here,” said Jarrett. “While I am sad this chapter closes, I am thrilled for my next chapter at Youngstown State and look forward to this next challenge. I wish this program the best of luck and continued success. The WLU Volleyball program and these student-athletes will always hold a special place in my heart.”

West Liberty will immediately begin a national search for their next head volleyball coach.