INSTITUTE, W.Va. – The Fairmont State (18-15) volleyball team dropped a match in the Mountain East Conference Semifinals to top-seeded Wheeling (24-7) on Friday (Nov. 17) night at the Walker Convocation Center in Institute, W.Va.
 
"Wheeling is a great program," said Fairmont State Head Volleyball Coach Travis Hinkle. "They are a great team, and there is a reason they have three first-team all-conference players. I am proud of our team and the grit they had. Wheeling made a lot fewer mistakes than we did. Our team fought and I am proud of the quality of volleyball played tonight."
 
The Cardinals tallied 42 kills on 112 attempts and only committed nine errors for a .295 hitting percentage. The Falcons secured 37 kills on 125 attempts and made 22 attack errors. The Cardinals racked up six blocks at the net and tracked down 56 digs while FSU totaled a trio of blocks and accumulated 46 digs.
 
All-MEC Second Team recipient Joey Borelle eclipsed double-digit kills for the 22^nd time this season and led Fairmont State with 12 kills while adding 10 digs. Josie Skinn racked up a pair of service aces and grabbed 10 digs. Kelsie Dangerfield dished out 18 assists while Jaianna Bouarouy passed 14. Josie Nobbe and Natalie Zemba both tallied a pair of blocks.
 
Skinn fired a service ace to even the score at 4-4 in the first set. Chloe McDaniel gave the Falcons their first lead of the set at 6-5. McDaniel's second kill of the night increased the Fairmont State lead to 8-6. The Cardinals jumped back in front following a 3-0 run and claimed a 12-10 lead. Ellie Zuro and Nobbe swung for consecutive kills and evened the score at 14. The Cardinals regained a two-point lead and forced an FSU timeout. Nobbe stopped a 3-0 Wheeling run with her fourth kill of the first set to put the Falcons within two at 17-15. The 'Cards pieced together a 4-0 run and took a 21-15 advantage. Wheeling captured four of the final five rallies to win the first set, 25-16.
 
Skinn's second service ace of the night evened set two, 4-4. After a long rally, McDaniel threaded the needle and placed an attack inside the back corner for her third kill of the night to tie the set at 6-6. Wheeling powered ahead to a four-point lead after stringing together three-consecutive points. Borelle's fifth kill of the match ended the Wheeling run and trimmed the deficit to three points, 12-9. The Cardinals pieced together a 6-1 scoring run and seized an 18-10 lead late in the set. Wheeling cruised to a 25-15 win in the second set.
 
After the Cardinals started the third set with an 8-4 lead, the Falcons fought back with a four-point scoring spree to even the count at 8-8. Borelle notched a pair of kills in the FSU run. Wheeling surged back ahead by five points following a 6-1 run and led 14-9 midway through the third set. Wheeling's lead grew to 19-12 thanks to a 5-2 run for the Cardinals. A kill by Nobbe and a kill by Borelle forced a Wheeling timeout and the Falcons cut the Cardinals' lead to five points. The Cardinals regained the momentum and held a 24-17 lead on the cusp of match point. Nobbe swung her eighth kill of the night and Zemba and Nobbe teamed up for a block to put Fairmont State within five points. Wheeling ended the Falcons' rally and won the semifinals match after a 25-19 win in set three.
 
"I love my team," said Hinkle. "We are a young team and to finish the season regionally ranked is a huge accomplishment. We are excited on what we are building and ready to prepare for next year. I am proud of this team and what they accomplished."