WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- West Liberty edged Fairmont State in a five-set thriller (25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 19-25, 15-11) on Tuesday evening in Mountain East Conference volleyball action at the ASRC.
 
It was the second-consecutive match that the Falcons fell behind by a 2-0 deficit and rallied to force a fifth set by winning sets three and four. With Fairmont State holding an 11-10 lead in the fifth set following a kill by Julia DiPaola, West Liberty responded with five-consecutive points to pick up the 15-11 win in the set.
 
Statistically the match was even, with Fairmont State holding its biggest advantage of the night in attacking percentage. Fairmont State finished the evening with 53 kills and 29 total errors for a .121 attacking percentage. WLU finished the match with 54 kills but committed 37 errors in the match (.087). The Hilltoppers held a narrow advantage in aces (10-8). Both teams finished the five sets with 10 blocks apiece.

DiPaola paced the Falcons (2-1, 2-1 MEC) in the setback with 13 kills, 20 digs and three total blocks. DiPaola finished the evening with a .225 attacking percentage and committed just four errors on the attack. Taylor Wisniewski also chipped in 12 kills and tallied a team-high four total blocks (two solo) for FSU. Amelia Moore also reached double-figures with 11 kills to go with a pair of block assists. Moore had a team-high .265 hitting percentage in the match (11 kills, 2 errors, 34 total attacks).
 
Lilianna Keber guided the Fairmont State offense with 32 assists to go with 16 digs. Bryce Knapp led Fairmont defensively with 30 digs.
 
Kaija Sydlowski recorded a match-high 21 kills in the victory for WLU. Madison Clayton also chipped in 10 kills and five blocks. Nyia Setla finished the match with 48 digs for the Hilltoppers.
 
Fairmont State will return to action on Friday evening with a home matchup against Alderson Broaddus. Start time is set for 7 p.m. at Joe Retton Arena.