FROSTBURG, Md. - The Frostburg State Volleyball team captured their first conference victory of the season on Friday night, defeating West Virginia Wesleyan at home by a 3-1 final.
 
Frostburg started the game off taking the first point of the game on a kill from freshman Devin Brunk. After the opening point, both teams traded off scores until Wesleyan took the first true lead at 8-5. FSU continued to battle in the set, bringing the score to 9-9. The set saw five more ties before it would be decided. Frostburg went on a five-point run to take their first lead since the opening point, coming off a big block from senior AJ Thompson and sophomore Maya Johnson. WVWC then went on a run of their own to retake the lead at 22-19. Coming out of an FSU timeout, sophomore Paige Mock had back-to-back blocks to get the crowd going and get Frostburg within one at 22-21.  FSU fought of one set point on a kill from freshman Dani Kunkle, before dropping set one to Wesleyan 25-23. 
 
Set two started with Frostburg still showing defensive prowess at the net with a block from Brunk. FSU then tied things up at 2-2 after a middle set to Mock was hammered down. Wesleyan would then respond, having three straight kills to go up 9-6. Brunk would then answer herself with a kill, swinging momentum to FSU, as the team then picked up four straight to take a 12-11 lead with two points again coming off blocks. Thompson came up big to keep the Frostburg cushion, seeing two straight kills to make the score 18-15. FSU fought hard at the end of the set to keep the lead and take the set with a combined effort from Johnson, Brunk, and Mock with the set winner from Kunkle, helping Frostburg tie the match at a set apiece, winning 25-21. 
 
Frostburg continued to play well at the net to open set three, with Mock smashing a 50/50 ball to make the score 1-1.  Wesleyan then found their momentum, as a few unforced errors from Frostburg allowed WVWC to run their lead out to 11-5. Frostburg calmed things down after a kill from Thompson, running off four straight points to get back within two, 11-9. Wesleyan tacked on some more points, before momentum swung to FSU's side, with Frostburg scoring seven straight. The crowd in Bobcat Arena went crazy after FSU returned two balls over the net that looked unplayable. Willing themselves to a lead, freshman setter Emery Kuebler killed a free ball to give Frostburg a 23-19 advantage.  The set winner came at the net again, with this block coming from Johnson, allowing Frostburg to take the third set 25-20. 
 
WVWC gave FSU the first point of set four after an attack error on offense.  The teams battled back and forth to get the set rolling, as Wesleyan saw a 4-3 lead, and Frostburg saw a 5-4 lead.  Brunk and Thompson continued to swat down kills for FSU, as Johnson was credited with another as well.  WVWC was able to take three consecutive points for either team's largest lead of the set at a 10-7 game.  A kill from Mock, off an assist from redshirt junior Phoebe Lingold, followed by four Wesleyan errors and a service ace from Kuebler, tacked on six straight points for Frostburg, putting them in front 13-10.  WWVWC was able to squeeze in a point, but everything continued to go right for FSU, who saw another six point scoring run.  Mock scored two kills and junior Amanda Knieper knotted two service aces to push Frostburg ahead 19-11.  Wesleyan was able to break the ice with a pair of points, but Kunkle and Thompson worked together to get the duo of points right back for a 21-13 game.  FSU was able to power out the set, with Thompson receiving two more kills, helping lead Frostburg to a 25-16 set four victory. 
 
Mock paved the way on both sides of the net with a team-high in kills (12) and blocks (6).  Thompson was right behind her in both categories with 10 kills and four blocks, while Kunkle finished with 11 kills.  Kuebler dished out 28 assists, while Lingold was credited with 13, and Gonzalez Medina provided 16 digs, while Knieper saw nine. 
 
With the win, Frostburg moves to 7-14 on the season, while Wesleyan goes to 12-10.  The Bobcats have a quick turnaround as they host Davis & Elkins tomorrow, October 26 at 2 PM for Senior Day.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.