NORTH CANTON, Ohio — The Fairmont State volleyball team defeated Walsh 3-0 on Tuesday at Alumni Arena, taking the sets 25-16, 25-18 and 25-18. The Falcons finished with a .330 hitting percentage and 44 kills, while the Cavaliers hit .116 with 35 kills. The Falcons also recorded six blocks and 56 digs in the sweep.
The Falcons broke open a tight first set with eight straight points on
Zoe Ringer's serve, turning a 14-13 lead into a 22-13 advantage behind three
Kailyn Connelly kills, a Connelly block and kills from
McKenzi Martin and
Josie Nobbe. At the start of the set, the Falcons answered a 6-3 deficit with four straight points, helped by three Cavaliers attack errors before
Belle DeVall's kill from Ringer put the Falcons ahead 7-6.
The Falcons continued to trade points effectively through the middle of the set, getting kills from
Elena Thompson,
Averi Martin, Grace Devall and Nobbe to build a 14-11 edge before the Cavaliers closed the gap to 14-13.
McKenzi Martin added late kills to move the Falcons to 24-15, and
Alexa Martin finished the set with a kill from Ringer for a 25-16 Falcons win.
The Falcons controlled the second set early, taking the first four points behind an
Alexa Martin kill, a Nobbe block, a Thompson ace and a Nobbe kill. After the Cavaliers got on the board, the Falcons pushed the margin to 8-1 with another Nobbe kill, a Connelly block and back-to-back Grace Devall aces.
The Cavaliers later cut the score to 14-11, but the Falcons responded with an
Alexa Martin kill and a Martin block to move back ahead 17-11. Nobbe continued to provide offense with five kills in the set, while
Olivia Perkins added a late ace as the Falcons closed out the 25-18 win.
The Falcons broke open a 16-16 set by winning seven of the next eight rallies, getting two Connelly kills and late points from
McKenzi Martin and Thompson to move ahead 23-17. Earlier in the third set, the Falcons built a 10-6 edge with kills from
Averi Martin, Nobbe,
McKenzi Martin and
Alexa Martin before the Cavaliers answered to tie the set at 10-10.
The Falcons pushed back in front behind a Thompson kill and another Nobbe finish, then held a 16-13 lead before the Cavaliers again pulled even at 16-16. After the late surge,
McKenzi Martin delivered a kill for set point, and
Averi Martin's block finished the Falcons' 25-18 set win.
Nobbe led the Falcons with 12 kills while hitting .407 and added five digs. Grace Devall recorded a team-high 18 digs, five assists and two service aces. Ringer finished with a team-best 19 assists and four digs.
Alexa Martin tallied six kills on nine attacks without an error, hitting .667.
Fairmont State (10-4) returns home to Joe Retton Arena on Friday, September 18 as it opens conference play against Mountain East Conference newcomer, Shawnee State. Match time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
