FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State (8-10, 2-2 Mountain East Conference) volleyball team secured a pivotal home win versus conference foe Notre Dame (Ohio) and won in five sets on Tuesday (Oct. 3) at Joe Retton Arena in Fairmont, W.Va.
The freshman duo of
Ellie Zuro and
Josie Nobbe led the Falcons and combined for 27 kills.
Joey Borelle added 11 kills and snagged 14 digs on the night to go along with a pair of service aces and three blocks.
Josie Skinn was all over the court and tracked down a match-high 24 digs and swung two service aces.
Emma Ludwig made her presence felt at the net and made seven blocks.
Kelsie Dangerfield distributed 27 assists while making 14 digs and
Jaianna Bouarouy passed 22 assists.
In the first set, Fairmont State trailed 14-10 and roared back by winning nine-straight points. Zuro, Nobbe and Borelle each tallied a kill during the run and Skinn knocked down a pair of service aces to swing the lead in Fairmont State's favor. Fairmont State captured the final two points of the set from a kill by Ludwig and blocks by Borelle and Ludwig and won 25-19 in the opening set.
Set two was tied at 17 when the visitors inched ahead after winning two consecutive rallies. NDC led by as many as five at 24-19 towards the end of the set. Fairmont State rallied and closed the gap to 24-23 after a kill by Zuro. NDC managed to tack on the final point and evened the score at 1-1 after a 25-23 win in set two.
Fairmont State jumped out to an 8-2 lead at the start of the third set. NDC evened the score at 15 after three consecutive aces by Jayme Zoeckler and kills by Samantha Comer and Sydney Bray. FSU regained the lead thanks to three-straight points that included an NDC service error and a pair of attack errors. Fairmont State led 24-23 and was one point from taking the third set following a kill by Borelle that was assisted by Dangerfield. Comer recorded a kill that tied the set at 24. With Zoeckler serving, Bray powered the final two kills and the visitors held a 2-1 lead after three sets.
Fairmont State responded and won 15 of the first 20 rallies to begin set four.
Natalie Zemba picked up a block solo to complete the hot start for Fairmont State in the fourth set. NDC rallied and managed to close in on the Fairmont State lead at 23-18. Cayden Andchutz closed out the set with two kills and the battle of the Falcons moved to the fifth set.
After Fairmont State trailed 4-2 in the final set, the Fighting Falcons won four unanswered points and seized a 6-4 lead. The Falcons set up a pair of blocks from Ludwig, Borelle and Zuro to grab a lead in the middle of set five. NDC tied the score at seven and later edged ahead 10-9 after a pair of kills and a service ace by Bray. Zemba swung a kill to tie the score at 12-12. Fairmont State continued riding the momentum from Zemba's kill and Borelle collected her 11th kill of the match to put her team ahead 13-12.
Lindsey Ulring dropped a service ace and forced Notre Dame (Ohio) to call its final timeout. Comer collected a kill to pull NDC within one point. Ludwig finished off the match with a kill that was assisted by Dangerfield and Fairmont State defended home court with a thrilling five-set conference victory.
The Fairmont State volleyball team is scheduled to play at Salem on Friday (Oct. 6) night on the road. The match will begin at 7 p.m. from Salem, W.Va.
