WHEELING, W.Va. -- Fairmont State advanced to the semifinal round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament by recording a .310 hitting percentage in a four-set victory over Urbana University on Thursday afternoon at Wheeling Jesuit's McDonough Center.
 
With the win, the Falcons improve to 24-7 and will meet the University of Charleston in Friday's first semifinal at 5 p.m. Urbana's season comes to an end with a record of 13-17.
 
First team All-Mountain East Conference performer Mackenzie Harrison led the Falcons with 15 kills and did not commit and error in the win. Harrison had a .517 attacking percentage in the match. Senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Witsaman also had a big day with 14 kills, six digs and a .324 hitting percentage. In addition, Courtney Kress chipped in 12 kills and Erin Harwood recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs.
 
In addition to Fairmont's advantage on the attack, FSU also held a 7-1 margin in total blocks. Breanna Blot recorded five total blocks for the Falcons, including two solo. Blot also added seven kills to her final numbers on the afternoon.
 
Megan Clerico recorded a team-high 19 digs in the match and Kayla Smith chipped in 13 for the Falcons. Jessica Furda passed-out 53 assists to guide the Fairmont State attack.
 
The Falcons won the first two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-22 before Urbana rebounded in the third set. With FSU trailing by just a single point (17-16) in the third set after an ace by Smith, Urbana scored six of the next eight points to grab a five-point advantage, 23-18. The Falcons got three points late in the set, including two kills by Witsaman and a block by Blot, but it wasn't enough as Megan Verhoff recorded the final two kills of the set for Urbana to give the Blue Knights the win, 25-21.
 
Urbana also held an 18-14 lead in the fourth set, but the Falcons scored 11 of the final 14 points in the set to pick up the win. Harrison recorded five kills during Fairmont's 11-3 run that wrapped up the victory for Fairmont State.
 
Urbana had four players in double-figures, led by Katlynn Dunlap with 17 points and 11 digs. Madison Davis also chipped in 15 kills while Aleese Butler and Verhoff each recorded 10. Mary Hendricks recorded 51 assists to lead the UU offense while Maia Dunlap tallied a team-high 15 digs.