Four Reach Double-Digit Digs in Volleyball Road Loss to Hilltoppers

WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team fought their way through three sets in a road loss to West Liberty on Monday night.
 
WLU began the match with a 5-2 lead before the Bobcats responded with a kill by senior Beverly Braun followed by a pair of kills from freshman Maddie Lewis to get within 6-5. A 5-1 Hilltopper run put them ahead by five, before Lewis combined with junior AJ Thompson on a block and senior Hayley Delor earned herself a kill to stop the momentum. With West Liberty up 13-8, it was Frostburg's turn for a spark, as senior Katie Keech served up a pair of aces, followed by Thompson finding the floor twice and Braun knocking down a pair of kills either side of her own ace, putting FSU ahead 17-15. WLU responded with two kills in taking the next three points, as each side traded points to a 21-21 tie. Junior Amanda Knieper gave the Bobcats a narrow lead, but the hosts hit back with three in a row to earn two set points at 24-22. Braun kept Frostburg alive with back-to-back kills, though West Liberty would have the last laugh, scoring twice in a row to take the set 26-24.
 
FSU held the early advantage in set two, with Braun scoring three of the team's first five points, but the Hilltoppers quickly regained the lead at 7-6. An 8-3 run put WLU ahead 16-11, but Braun came up with another kill and ace to keep the Bobcats within two. West Liberty maintained a multi-point lead up with 23-18, looking to close out another set win, but Braun kept the offense churning with two more kills, as Delor added an ace to pull within one. As they had done in the first set, the Hilltoppers were the ones to find their attacks when it mattered, scoring the final two points for a 25-22 set win.
 
Seeking a three-set sweep, WLU jumped ahead 6-3 to begin the third set, but Frostburg found a response, with Knieper and Thompson scoring a trio of kills before combining on a block, then another Braun point brought them back within one. The sides went back-and-forth up to a 13-13 tie, with the Hilltoppers snatching momentum by scoring four of the next five for a three-point advantage. Knieper and Braun both knocked down kills either side of a solo Thompson block, then senior McKaily Thomson-Moran chipped in with a score before Knieper went on a tear of three scores in a row to tie the set 22-22. Still WLU kept their theme of finishing sets strong, getting the final three kills to win 25-22 for the sweep.
 
Braun led all scorers with 19 points to go alongside 13 digs for a double-double. Junior Fiona Gonzalez Medina (15), senior Jenna Gossard (12), and Keech (12) all also chipped in on the defensive effort.
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 15-14 on the year, while West Liberty improves to 22-7. FSU will play their final regular season game on Friday, November 10 to face Fairmont State in Bobcat Arena at 7 p.m., where it will be senior day. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.