FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State volleyball team lost in five-set battle to Charleston (WV) by a 3-2 final.
 
UC came out of the blocks ready to go, building an 8-2 lead before back-to-back kills from junior Maya Johnson and sophomore Dani Kunkle stemmed the tide. After junior Grace Yocham found the floor to bring things to 9-5, the Golden Eagles went on a 10-2 run to surge ahead 19-7. FSU put together a few two-point runs with Kunkle and Johnson both earning kills, while one of the set highlights came on a long rally that ended in a combo block between Yocham and freshman Adele Evans. In the end, Charleston's lead was too much as they took the first set 25-14.
 
The second set looked like a new Frostburg team, starting strong with block from junior Paige Mock and Johnson, as a kill from the former and an error gave the hosts the first three points. UC was able to to take five of the next six to gain a one-point advantage, as the sides traded runs up to a 13-10 Bobcat lead following a Johnson kill. After the teams traded two straight points, the Golden Eagles went on a 5-1 run to regain the advantage 17-16. Following an FSU timeout, Kunkle hit a laser down the line to tie the set at 17-17, kicking off a four-point run in which Evans and Yocham both added scores to move ahead 20-17. Charleston fought back with back-to-back kills and a block to even things up, but aces by senior Amanda Knieper and sophomore Emery Kuebler, alongside an Evans kill and Mock-Yocham block, helped pull the Bobcats ahead 24-22. UC would fend off both set points before an attacking error was followed by Kunkle picking up a kill of the block for a 26-24 Frostburg set win.
 
In similar fashion to the first set, the Golden Eagles built a quick 7-4 advantage to begin the third. Sophomore Devin Brunk netted a kill to get FSU going, as Mock joined her and Yocham on blocks to take their first lead at 8-7. From that point, the sides went blow for blow, with back-to-back UC kills putting them narrowly ahead 13-12. A serving error allowed Mock to go on a solid streak from the line, with two straight aces and an Evans-Kunkle block putting the Bobcats ahead 17-14. Charleston then raced ahead on a trio of kills and an ace of their own getting them up 19-17. Eventually facing a 23-20 deficit, Frostburg fought back on three consecutive attacking errors and a Mock-Johnson block to surge ahead 24-23. A Golden Eagle kill evened things up, then after Brunk put it at set point on a score at 25-24, the final three went to the visitors to take the 27-25 victory. 
 
FSU looked to stay alive in the match and came out strong in the fourth, taking the first four points with a Johnson kill followed by Kuebler hitting three aces. UC came right back to tie it back up, with rallies being traded from that point to a 10-10 score. The Bobcats slowly chipped their way to a 17-12 advantage, as Brunk and Yocham combined for three kills while Kuebler added another ace and Mock joined Yocham on a block. Frostburg continued to hold UC at bay, as three consecutive Kunkle scores kept them ahead 22-16. The Golden Eagles fought back once again, scoring five straight late to get their deficit down to 22-21. Brunk responded with a kill, then back-to-back hitting errors took things to a fifth set with FSU winning 25-21. Frostburg had its best hitting set at a .355 percentage.
 
The Golden Eagles started the deciding set looking to finish things off quickly, scoring the first five points and forcing an FSU timeout. Brunk got the first Bobcat point to end the streak, as the hosts stormed back with Mock joining Johnson and Kunkle on blocks followed by all three netting kills to put Frostburg up 7-5. The set was then tied three more times, as the sides went on multiple two-point, UC going up 11-9 and 13-11 both were fended off by Yocham, Brunk, and Mock scores and a Kunkle ace. A Charleston kill was followed by an error for a 14-14 score, however the Golden Eagles took the final two points to win the match 16-14.
 
Kunkle led the attack with 16 kills, joined in double figures by Brunk's 10. Kuebler notched a match-high six aces to go with her 23 assists, while freshman Bailey Rafferty dished out a career-high 17 of her own. Freshman Kylie Appleton aided in the defensive effort with a team-high 10 digs, followed closely by sophomore Allison Brown and Rafferty each having nine. Mock was a force on the block, tying her career-best with 12 in the match, while Johnson did set a new personal best with seven. 

FSU is now 6-11 on the season while Charleston moves to 13-9. The Bobcats will next host West Virginia State tomorrow, October 18 at 2 PM. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com