WHEELING, W.Va. -- The Fairmont State University women's volleyball team faced Wheeling University in a Mountain East Conference (MEC) showdown. The Falcons fell to the Cardinals in a five-set battle.

Leading the way for Fairmont State was Joey Borelle with 22 kills and 20 digs. Baylie Ostvig and Chloe McDaniel finished with 12 kills each as Kelsie Dangerfield totaled 35 assists. Defensively, Josie Skinn had 29 digs as McDaniel and Gabi Smith both blocked five attacks.

Opening the match, the two sides went back-and-forth until the Falcons rattled off five-straight to open a 10-7 lead. The visitors maintained the slim lead until they opened a six-point advantage (24-18) with kills from Borelle and Ostvig. Wheeling captured the next point but Josie Nobbe notched the final kill to win the set, 25-19.

In the second set, the two sides matched the other until the Cardinals started to pull away. The home squad used a 10-2 run to lead 21-13 and cruised to a nine-point win, 25-16.

The third set was setting up to be similar to the second as Wheeling pulled ahead by six, 16-10. The Falcons battled back with a 6-1 run with three aces from Jay Miller. The hosts held on to the slim lead and were one point away from the set but Fairmont State tied the set as Borelle successfully converted on back-to-back attacks to close out the set, 27-25.

Both sides settled into a groove in the fourth set as neither side captured a lead before Fairmont State went on a 5-1 run with three kills from Borelle to lead 11-7. The Cardinals responded with 15-5 stretch to go in front by seven, 22-15. The Falcons did not go away as they won the next five points with two kills from Borelle and consecutive blocks from Gabi Smith and Chloe McDaniel. Trailing by two (22-20), Fairmont State tried to complete the comeback as Wheeling won three of the final four points for the 25-21 set, sending the match to a fifth set.

Wheeling wasted no time taking the lead as it won eight of the first 11 points. The Falcons attempted to narrow the margin but were unable to do so as the Cardinals won the set, 15-5, and the match, 3-2.

Fairmont State (10-6, 1-1) kicks off Homecoming Weekend on Friday, October 4 as it faces West Liberty University. Start time is slated for 4:00 p.m.