Fairmont State University Athletics

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Fairmont State volleyball team (29-5, 13-3 MEC) fell in the semifinal round of the Mountain East Conference Volleyball Championship to Charleston (32-3, 15-1 MEC) on Friday (Nov. 11) evening 
 
Fairmont State Leaders
Joey Borelle (11) Keara Lewis (10) and Nyla Birch (10) all reached double figures in kills. Setters Lauren Albrecht (14) and Kelsie Dangerfield (10) tallied double-digit assist totals. Bryce Knapp hustled down 15 digs and distributed nine assists. Amelia Moore totaled a block solo and a pair of block assists.
 
Charleston Leaders
Pia Selke led all attackers with 17 kills. The Golden Eagles' scoring was facilitated by Maria Hernandez, who ended with 40 assists. Libero Erin Carmody grabbed 22 digs and had the match's only service ace.
 
Inside the Match
With the opening set at 8-8, Charleston went on a 6-1 scoring run that built a five-point cushion. UC scored three consecutive points to go up 18-12 late in the first set. Fairmont State rallied at the end of set one after three straight Charleston attack errors. The Golden Eagles won the first set, 25-21.
 
UC carried the momentum into the second set and won 14 of the first 20 points. Lewis and Borelle both produced three kills each for Fairmont State in the second set. The Falcons did not cut the margin to less than eight points down the stretch. Charleston finished set two with a nine-point advantage.
 
The third set was tight and featured nine tie scores. A Borelle kill and a Charleston attack error put Fairmont State in front 7-5 in the third set. The Golden Egles tied the score at eight after a Sage Bearnson kill and a Carmody service ace. Borelle racked up consecutive kills to put Fairmont State back in the lead. UC regained the lead after a three-point scoring run. A pair of kills by Birch and a Golden Eagles attack error padded the Falcons' lead to two points. 
 
UC tied the score at 15 after a Fairmont State attack error. Madison Chapman evened the score at 17 after a kill. Charleston assembled a key three-point run to go up 20-17 late in the third set. The Fighting Falcons rallied and went on a four-point run that featured kills from Birch and Lewis to go up 22-21. Charleston roared back and won four of the final five points that earned the Golden Eagles a spot in the MEC Championship Match.
 
The Falcons received the number five ranking in the Atlantic Region last week. Fairmont State will need to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament for its season to continue. The tournament field for NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament will be announced at 10:30 p.m. EST on Sunday (Nov. 13) night.