FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State swept Concord in straight sets on Thursday evening, winning 25-18, 25-21, 25-17. The Falcons recorded 46 kills with a .252 hitting percentage and were led by a strong defensive performance with 58 digs. The Mountain Lions struggled to keep pace, hitting .130 with 35 kills.

Fairmont State began the first set with a balanced attack, quickly responding after Concord's initial points. Cayden Anschutz and Natalie Zemba secured early kills to keep the score close. The team gained momentum with a series of strategic plays, including consecutive kills by Chloe McDaniel and Joey Borelle, supported by assists from Belle DeVall, to build a 7-4 lead.

The Falcons extended their advantage with a series of opponent errors and key blocks by Anschutz and Alexa Martin. Borelle continued to be a standout performer with multiple kills, widening the gap to 15-7. Concord attempted to rally, but the Falcons maintained control with contributions from Josie Nobbe and another critical block by Zemba.

The set concluded with the Falcons capitalizing on Concord's service and attack errors, while McDaniel's decisive kills sealed the 25-18 win for the home team. Fairmont State led decisively at the end of the first set, setting a strong tone for the match.

The second set began with the Falcons gaining momentum through a series of impactful plays. Borelle initiated the scoring for Fairmont State with a kill assisted by Zoe Ringer, setting the tone early. Despite Concord keeping the score close with several exchanges, Nobbe and Borelle combined for consecutive points, pushing the Falcons ahead.

A mid-set surge by Fairmont State, highlighted by a crucial block from Martin and Anschutz, helped them build a significant advantage. Nobbe's consistent attacking, along with service pressure from DeVall, extended Fairmont's lead.

In the closing stages, the Falcons maintained their lead through effective play by Borelle and McDaniel, despite a late push from the Mountain Lions. The set concluded with Fairmont State securing a 25-21 victory, ensuring a solid performance heading into the next set.

The Falcons began the third set with a strong offensive push, highlighted by a series of kills from Nobbe and service pressure from Josie Skinn, which established an early advantage. This momentum was bolstered by defensive efforts, including a critical block by Martin and Borelle, resulting in a 9-4 lead.

Despite a mid-set rally from Concord that leveled the score at 12-12, Fairmont State responded decisively. Key kills from Borelle and Martin, along with consistent setups by Ringer, helped regain and extend the lead. The Falcons secured the set with a 25-17 victory, closing out with a series of successful plays including a service ace and concluding kills by Nobbe and Zemba.

Borelle led the Falcons with 16 kills, hitting at a .429 percentage, and added two service aces. Skinn contributed significantly to the defensive effort with 15 digs and also had three assists. Anschutz was a key presence at the net, recording five block assists. Ringer facilitated the offense with 22 assists over the three-set stretch.

Fairmont State (19-9, 7-4) returns to Joe Retton Arena on Friday, November 7 to face West Liberty University. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m.