WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — The Fairmont State women's volleyball team (25-5, 13-1 MEC) won the match 3-0 over West Liberty (10-18, 9-5 MEC) on Friday, taking the sets 25-18, 25-15 and 25-19. With the win, the Falcons clinched the MEC North Division Title.
The Falcons recovered from a 5-4 deficit in the opening set, using a
Kailyn Connelly kill, a Hilltoppers attack error, another Connelly kill and a
Baylie Ostvig kill to move in front 9-6. After the Hilltoppers got back within 10-8, the Falcons answered with an
Elena Thompson kill, an
Alexa Martin block and a
Natalie Zemba kill as part of a push to 14-9.
The Falcons later extended the margin from 17-13 to 21-13 behind an
Averi Martin kill, a Connelly block and two Hilltoppers attack errors. Ostvig added another kill for a 23-14 lead, and the Falcons closed out the set 25-18 on a Hilltoppers attack error.
In the second set,
Averi Martin opened the set with a kill from
Belle DeVall, Thompson followed with an ace, and the Falcons built an 8-4 lead behind early kills from Martin and Thompson. After the Hilltoppers pulled within 8-6, the Falcons answered with three consecutive points that included a Zemba kill from DeVall, then moved ahead 13-7 on an
Averi Martin block and kill.
Ostvig, Connelly and
Alexa Martin helped the Falcons maintain separation through the middle of the set, with Martin credited on blocks on Falcons points that made it 19-12 and 20-13. Thompson added late kills for 21-13 and 23-15, then served an ace at 24-15 before a Hilltoppers attack error ended the set.
To start the third, the Falcons built an 8-2 lead behind kills from Thompson,
Averi Martin and Connelly, with
Belle DeVall setting up much of the early offense. The Hilltoppers trimmed the margin to 9-6, but the Falcons answered with points that included an
Alexa Martin block assist and a Connelly kill, then stretched the advantage to 15-8. After the Hilltoppers cut a 22-13 deficit to 22-17, the Falcons steadied the set with a Hilltoppers attack error and another Connelly kill before closing out the set.
Thompson led the Falcons with nine kills, added 11 digs and served two aces. Grace Devall collected a team-high 19 digs and added two assists.
Belle DeVall finished with a team-high 19 assists, nine digs and one service ace.
Alexa Martin recorded five total blocks and added five digs.
Fairmont State concludes its two-game road trip on Monday, November 2 at Point Park University. Match time from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is set for 7:00 p.m.
