FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Fairmont State volleyball opened the 2021 season with a pair of 3-0 sweeps over Kutztown University (25-15, 25-16, 25-17) and Lake Erie College (25-15, 25-15, 26-24) on Friday during day one of the Fairmont State Volleyball Classic inside Joe Retton Arena.
 
Match 1 - Fairmont State vs. Kutztown
 
During the home- and season-opener against Kutztown, Fairmont State was led by nine kills and 12 digs from Madison Chapman. Emily Cordle also chipped in eight kills and two blocks, while Julia DiPaola and Amelia Moore drove home seven kills apiece to contribute to the Fairmont State attack.
 
Lily Keber recorded 29 of Fairmont State's 36 assists in the win.
 
DiPaola (19), Bryce Knapp (16) and Chapman (12) each had double-digit digs for the Falcons.
 
The Falcons were also strong around the net with nine total blocks in the match. Emma Ludwig paced the Falcons with seven total blocks (1 solo, 6 assisted). DiPaola and Moore also recorded three blocks apiece for FSU.
 
Fairmont State hit .253 and also recorded nine service aces in the three-set victory.
 
Match 2 – Fairmont State vs. Lake Erie
 
In Saturday's nightcap against Lake Erie, Fairmont State was once again led by Chapman with 10 kills to go with 11 digs. Chapman was also in on a trio of blocks. The Falcons also got seven kills apiece from DiPaola, Moore and Cordle.
 
Keber guided the Fairmont State attack with 28 assists in the win.
 
Knapp and Kelsey Moeller provided a bulk of the work defensively for the Falcons, recorded 13 digs apiece in the victory.
 
Fairmont State was once again strong around the net against Lake Erie, totaling 10 total blocks as a team. Ludwig recorded a team-high seven blocks in the match (2 solo, 5 assisted).
 
Fairmont State hit .272 against Lake Erie (only 11 attack errors).
 
The Falcons will return to action with two more matches on Saturday at the Fairmont State Volleyball Classic. Fairmont State hosts D'Youville at 11 a.m. and California (PA) at 7 p.m.