ERIE, Pa. – The Fairmont State volleyball team (29-6) fell in the first round of the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament to Charleston (33-4) on Friday (Nov. 18) at the Highmark Events Center in Erie, Pa. The Fighting Falcons' season came to an end after the team earned the highest winning percentage in school history and made an NCAA Regional appearance for the first time since 2016.
 
"These girls made this team better and our team improved throughout the year," said Fairmont State head coach Travis Hinkle. "We have great people and a are building a strong culture. I loved spending time with these student-athletes and it was a special season."
 
Fairmont State Leaders
Joey Borelle continued her strong postseason performance and led the Falcons with nine kills. Madison Chapman swung for seven kills, while Keara Lewis had five. Lauren Albrecht passed 13 assists and chipped in a pair of service aces. Bryce Knapp and Karli Edwards also served two service aces. Knapp, who was named to the All-MEC First Team, snagged 10 digs. Amelia Moore accumulated two block assists.
 
Charleston Leaders
Three Golden Eagles, Pia Selke (12), Sage Bearnson (11) and McKenzie Damon (10) eclipsed double-digit kill totals. Maria Hernandez dished out 38 assists and set up the Charleston attackers. Hernandez also led the Golden Eagles at the net with two block solos and a block assist. Morgan Walter had two service aces. Erin Carmody grabbed 16 digs.
 
Inside Set One
Borelle started her evening with a trio of kills for Fairmont State's first three points. With the Fighting Falcons trailing by a point, Charleston scored five-straight points that forced a Falcons' timeout. The Golden Eagles led by as many as nine in the opening set. The Falcons gained momentum after a kill from Borelle, a pair of Knapp service aces and a Nyla Birch kill that trimmed the lead to six. UC closed the first set with an 8-4 scoring run.
 
Inside Set Two
The Golden Eagles jumped out to an 8-3 lead which featured a pair of kills by Bearnson. Following a Chapman kill, UC went on a 4-0 run that extended the Charleston lead to eight points. UC pushed the advantage to 10 points. The Falcons mounted a three-point run after Edwards served consecutive aces. Fairmont State could not cut the deficit to less than seven points down the stretch. Selke ended the second set with her seventh kill of the match.
 
Inside Set Three
Selke racked up her 10^th kill of the night that gave Charleston a 7-4 lead. The Falcons clawed back into the set following a 3-0 run that included a pair of kills by Moore. Fairmont State gained its first lead of the set from a 4-0 run that featured two service aces from Albrecht, forcing a Golden Eagles' timeout. UC regained the lead after Selke drilled a service ace. A kill from Borelle and a UC attack error put Fairmont State in front, 18-17. Charleston collected three key points with a Bearnson kill, a Carmody service ace and a FSU attack error to go up 20-18. Chapman erased the UC lead to one at 20-19. The Golden Eagles closed out the match by winning the final five points and advanced in the regional tournament.