Fairmont, W.Va. -- Fairmont State kicked off the Malone University Volleyball Hall of Fame City Challenge in Canton, Ohio Friday evening with a pair of losses against Seton Hill (26-24, 19-25, 12-25, 25-18, 15-12) and Saginaw Valley State (25-16, 27-25, 25-16). 

Match 1 – Fairmont State vs. Seton Hill 

Fairmont State started the first match of the day off strong, winning the second and third sets after narrowly losing the first, before the Griffins secured the 3-2 defeat by taking both the fourth and fifth sets. The Falcons hit .252 against the Griffins and committed 17 attack errors. 

Senior Julia DiPaola and sophomore Emma Ludwig led the team in kills with 13 each. Senior Lilianna Keber was equally essential to the Falcons' offense, recording 42 of Fairmont State's 46 assists in addition to her three aces. 

Junior Bryce Knapp led the team defensively, tallying 15 digs in addition to her offensive contributions which included three aces and three assists.

DiPaola and junior Madison Chapman each recorded double-doubles for the Falcons, with DiPaola finishing the match with 13 kills, 11 digs and one ace and Chapman chipping in 11 kills and 12 digs. 

Match 2 – Fairmont State vs. Saginaw Valley State

The Fighting Falcons concluded the day's competition with a 3-0 loss to the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals. 

Junior Amelia Moore led the team with six kills, while Chapman, DiPaola and Nyla Birch recorded five apiece. Defensively, DiPaola aided the Falcons with 16 digs and one block. Keber recorded a double-double, finishing the match with 14 digs and 15 assists. 

The Fighting Falcons continue play at the Hall of Fame City Challenge tomorrow with matches against Slippery Rock at 11:15 a.m. and host, Malone, at 3:45 p.m.