FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The Fairmont State (7-9, 1-1 Mountain East Conference) volleyball team fought until the final rally but fell in five sets to MEC North favorites Wheeling (7-5, 1-1) on Tuesday (Sept. 26) night at Joe Retton Arena.
 
Fairmont State Leaders
Freshman Ellie Zuro led the Falcons offensively, swinging for 17 kills on the evening. Joey Borelle followed with 13 kills to go along with 18 digs. Alexa Martin hit 12 kills and recorded a team-high 0.333 hitting percentage. Jaianna Bouarouy handed out 36 assists and notched 15 digs, while Kelsie Dangerfield helped pass 22 assists. On the defensive end, Josie Skinn hauled in 24 digs and had three service aces.
 
Inside Set One
Wheeling got off to a quick start and the Falcons trailed 4-0. FSU scrapped back and tied up the opening set 5-5. The Cardinals led 11-7 when Fairmont State head coach Travis Hinkle called a timeout that shifted the momentum. The Falcons evened up the score at 11-11 after a kill, two blocks, and a service ace. Two service aces from Skinn put Fairmont State up 16-15 and forced a Wheeling timeout. A kill by Josie Nobbe continued the offensive rhythm for the Falcons and FSU led 19-18. The points were back and forth, but eventually the two teams entered a deadlock at 20-20. Two huge kills by Martin and Borelle gave FSU a 22-21 advantage. The Falcons' defense and kills by Borelle and Zuro helped deny the strong pressure by the Cardinals. Wheeling scored three points and inched ahead with a 25-24 advantage. A combo block by Emma Ludwig and Nobbe sparked a 3-0 rally to push Fairmont State to a 27-25 set one win. Skinn etched her third service ace of the set to cap off the opening set.
 
Inside Set Two
After a back and forth start to the set, the Cardinals led 6-3. Kills by Martin, Borelle, and Ludwig kept the Wheeling lead in check. Wheeling held onto the momentum offensively, where they led by as many as eleven points. Zuro was able to gather another two kills to make the score 20-10. Jay Miller picked up two serving aces while Martin and Natalie Zemba combined for a block. Wheeling evened the match score with a 25-15 set two victory.
 
Inside Set Three
Fairmont State started off slow offensively, but a kill from Borelle got the Falcons on the scoreboard in the third set. Two kills by both Nobbe and Martin tried to counter the Wheeling offense but Wheeling maintained a 12-6 cushion. A block by Borelle and Ludwig trimmed the Wheeling lead to five points. The Cardinals' offense warmed up and extended their advantage 18-10 lead. Zemba and Martin combined for a trio of kills to cut the WU lead to 21-15. Following a FSU timeout, Ludwig and Baylie Ostvig collected a kill each to trim the deficit to 22-18. Wheeling pulled away claimed the third set by a score of 25-19.
 
Inside Set Four
The Falcons jumped out to a 2-0 advantage over the Cardinals in the fourth set. After two kills by Martin and one by Borelle, FSU battled to make the score 9-8 in favor of the Cardinals. Wheeling took the next four points until the offensive streak was ended by a Ludwig kill. Fairmont State continued to fight back with three consecutive kills to make the score 13-11. A huge block by the freshmen duo in Nobbe and Zemba decreased the Cardinals' advantage to 15-14. Three alternating kills between Martin and Borelle gave FSU the 17-16 lead, the first since the start of the fourth set. Fairmont State's Martin carried on with her success on the attack with another kill that kept the Falcons in the lead. FSU pulled ahead 20-18 after a Wheeling service error and a kill by Borelle. Wheeling pulled within a point on the next rally, but Borelle and Zuro countered this with a kill each. Zuro slammed another kill to push the FSU edge to 23-20. Wheeling came within one point of the FSU lead at 24-23 and forced a Fairmont State timeout. Out of the timeout, Nobbe put down the final kill of the set and sent the match into the fifth and deciding set.
 
Inside Set Five
Fairmont State grabbed a 2-1 edge on Wheeling with a block from Borelle and Ludwig, and a kill by Zuro. The Falcons and Cardinals split the first six rallies. The stalemate was broken by the Cardinals after winning four unanswered points to go up 7-3. FSU regained their offensive momentum after a Zuro kill. The Cards picked up two points to increase their lead to five points. Martin secured a kill off a Dangerfield set to make the score 11-7, still in favor of Wheeling. Zuro led the offense with three kills for FSU in the final set. The Cardinals held on and won the final set, 15-10.
 
Up Next
Fairmont State will travel to West Liberty on Friday (Sept. 29). The battle with the Hilltoppers is set for 7 p.m. inside the Academic Sports & Recreation Complex.