WILSON, N.C. – The Frostburg State volleyball team split their final day at the Bulldog Invitational, losing 3-2 to Newberry and defeating Davis & Elkins 3-0.
 
Newberry started quick, going up 3-0 in the first set. Junior Paige Mock would give FSU its first point on a kill, as it would be a back-and-forth affair from that point, with the sides battling to 14 ties. Frostburg held their largest lead at 11-8 on a four-point run, but the Wolves were able to answer. Each time FSU tried to pull away, NC prevented the set from getting out of hand, eventually tying things at 24-24. Sophomore Dani Kunkle came up big with a kill to go up one, then Mock would clinch things with a service ace for a one-set lead at 26-24.
 
FSU ran with the momentum to start set two, getting four straight kills from sophomore Devin Brunk. Frostburg continued to build the lead, with their largest lead stretching to eight following a Kunkle kill and a Wolves error. Eventually the Bobcats went ahead 17-9 on a 5-1 run, as junior Grace Yocham, Brunk, and Mock all combined for four kills, the latter two also getting a block. Graduate Brenna Siperko then notched back-to-back scores as it seemed FSU had the set sealed up 20-12, but Newberry rattled off five in a row to get within 20-17. Kunkle and Yocham found the floor on three consecutive attacks, giving Frostburg some space and eventually the latter ended the set with a score of 25-20.
 
Down 2-0 the Wolves had to respond and found life in set three. After going ahead 6-3 early on, they never looked back, as FSU couldn't get closer than two points up to a 25-17 loss. In set four, the Bobcats started strong, winning the first five points as Brunk added a pair of kills and an ace. The Wolves closed the gap slowly but surely, eventually tying things up 11-11. In similar fashion to the first set, Frostburg wasn't able to break away at any point, as NC turned a 19-17 deficit into a 20-19 advantage. The Bobcats responded with Mock getting a block and Brunk adding a kill only to see things knotted 22-22 two scores later. A service error and attacking error set FSU up with a couple chances to win the match, but  Newberry fight both of them off, earning five of the final six points to win 27-25 and tie the match up.
 
For the second straight day the Bobcats found themselves in a fifth set and a back-and-forth decider. NC was able to get the better of the early going, leading 8-5 in hopes of pulling off the comeback. FSU hung with the Wolves as Brunk and Yocham combined for three kills to get within one. After Brunk got the Bobcats to a 10-9 score, Newberry rolled off five of the next six to complete the two-set deficit and win 15-10 for a 3-2 match victory.
 
Brunk led the Bobcats with 16 kills, while sophomore Kuebler was tops in digs with 17 and assists at 35. Mock, Siperko, and freshman Adele Evans each had four blocks apiece on the defensive effort.
 
The second match of the day was a much-needed morale booster for Frostburg, taking on a familiar foe in MEC rivals Davis & Elkins, with each side getting an early scouting report before conference play begins.
 
After D&E opened the contest with a kill, Mock put up a kill, a block, and an ace, while Brunk dropped in a nice serve and Siperko found the floor twice for a 7-2 advantage. Back-to-back Senator points didn't deter the Bobcat attack, as Evans, Yocham, and Kunkle all featured in a six-point run to lead 13-4. Davis & Elkins tried to chip their way back into the set, but with FSU ahead 17-12, Brunk, Kunkle, and Mock put any thoughts of a comeback to rest with a 23-12 lead. Kunkle earned the final two kills for Frostburg to take the first 25-15.
 
It appeared as if the second set would be much quicker as Brunk put up a kill and a trio of aces with the Bobcats taking the first eight points. Against the run of play, D&E was able to settle themselves and fight back to an 11-8 score. Evans and Mock got FSU going again with back-to-back solo blocks, with Brunk and Kuebler adding kills to widen the gap to 17-11. After letting the first set get away quickly, the Senators had much more fight in them this time around, getting all the way back with small rallies to a 21-21 tie. Mock came up with another block before a serving error tied it back up, but Kunkle took control with three kills to take a narrow 25-23 set victory.
 
Frostburg got off to another fast start in hopes of a sweep, as Siperko, Brunk, and Mock all found the floor while Brunk notched two more aces for a 10-2 lead. Kunkle and Yocham later combined for three kills as FSU went ahead 15-4. There would be no Davis & Elkins response in what turned into the final set, as the Bobcats were determined to put the match away. Up 16-7, Brunk, Mock and Kunkle went for five kills while three D&E errors gave Frostburg a dominant 25-9 set victory and match sweep.
 
Kunkle led the offense with a match-high 14 kills, while Brunk tacked on six aces and Mock matched that number in blocks. Kuebler dished out 25 assists as senior Amanda Knieper, Kunkle, and Brunk all recorded eight digs.
 
With the split, FSU ends their weekend at 1-2, as they will next host the Bobcat Invitational from Friday, September 12 through Saturday, September 13, welcoming Pitt-Johnstown, Shippensburg, and Ohio Dominican to Bobcat Arena. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.