CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Fairmont State volleyball team defeated the Davis & Elkins Senators on Thursday (Nov. 10) night in the Mountain East Conference Quarterfinal Match at the Wehrle Innovation Center in Charleston, W.Va. With the win, the Fighting Falcons advance to the MEC Semifinal Match and will play Charleston on Friday (Nov. 11) night at 6 p.m. inside the Wehrle Innovation Center.
 
"Our game plan was for us to play our game tonight," said Fairmont State head coach Travis Hinkle. "We knew it was going to be a tough match since we played them [Davis & Elkins] a few weeks ago. We knew they [D&E] were not going to go down without a fight. We passed very well tonight and work on that in practice every day. That was a big part of our game and it contributed to our success tonight and this season."
 
A contributor to the Falcons' strong passing game is setter Lauren Albrecht. Albrecht totaled 18 assists to set up the FSU hitters.
 
"The chemistry our team has is very strong," said Albrecht. "We have thrived off of everyone working together this year."
 
All-MEC Honorable Mention and All-MEC Freshman Team honoree Joey Borelle finished with nine kills, leading the Falcons.
 
"Their [Davis & Elkins] defense was very scrappy," said Borelle. "It comes down to our team energy and our atmosphere. When we get going, our shots start falling for us."
 
Fairmont State Leaders
Keara Lewis and Nyla Birch both racked up eight kills. In addition to Albrecht's 18 assists, Kelsie Dangerfield contributed 17 assists in Fairmont State's passing game. Madison Chapman and Josie Skinn both netted two service aces. Emma Ludwig led FSU with five blocks. Bryce Knapp hauled in 19 digs and Skinn accumulated 12 digs.
 
Davis & Elkins Leaders
The Senators had two players with double-digit kill totals. Macie Magallon swung for a match-high 20 kills. Maria Isabel Butruce Candiota ended the match with 10 kills. Libero Mariah Autobee hustled for a match-high 25 digs.
 
Inside Set One
A Lewis kill, an attack error from D&E and a Birch kill created a three-point lead for Fairmont State early in the opening set. The Senators trimmed the Fairmont State lead to one point at 8-7. The Falcons ripped off five-straight points, which included a pair of kills from Borelle. The Fighting Falcons compiled a six-point run later in the set and increased their lead to 10 points. Fairmont State cruised to win the first set, 25-15.
 
Inside Set Two
Both teams split the first 22 points of the set. The Falcons jumped out to a two-point lead following a Senators' attack error and a service ace from Skinn. Two separate three-point runs increased the Fairmont State lead to six points at 19-13. The set concluded with a pair of service aces by Chapman and the Fighting Falcons took a two-set lead into the third frame.
 
Inside Set Three
With Fairmont State down one point, Davis & Elkins won four-straight decisions and led 10-5 after the first 15 points. D&E's cushion increased to eight following a 5-1 run. A service error and a kill by Amelia Moore cut the deficit to six points. The Senators manufactured three separate two-point runs that pushed their lead to nine points. Magallon fired the final two kills of the set and the Senators forced a fourth set following a 25-16 set three win.
 
Inside Set Four
The Fighting Falcons responded early in the fourth set and won four of the first five points. Two D&E attack errors, a Moore kill and a Skinn service ace put Fairmont State in control. The Senators crawled back into the set and trailed by one point after a kill by Brianna Portley. Borelle's eighth kill of the night capped off a Fairmont State four-point run to build a seven-point lead for FSU. Davis & Elkins continued to fight and accumulated five-straight points to keep the Fairmont State lead at three. Magallon pulled the Senators within two points at 21-19. Chapman, Borelle and Moore each laced a kill to push the Falcons' lead to five points. Fairmont State finished the match with a 25-20 set four victory and punched their ticket to the MEC Semifinals.
 
Up Next
The Fairmont State volleyball team will face the MEC South Champion Charleston Golden Eagles tomorrow (Nov. 11) at 6 p.m. in Charleston, W.Va.