Volleyball Concludes Vulcan Invitational with Pair of Sweeps

CALIFORNIA, Pa. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team swept Bloomsburg and California (Pa.) both by scores of 3-0 on Saturday afternoon to conclude their time in the Vulcan Invitational. 
 
Frostburg got on the board first to start the day, scoring back-to-back points off an attack error from Bloomsburg, followed by a kill from senior Brenna Siperko.  The Bobcats continued to push ahead, jumping in front 6-2 after kills from freshman Emery Kuebler and senior Beverly Braun.  Braun was credited with an ace after her kill, sparking another string of points for FSU, as kills from freshman Dani Kunkle and Braun put Frostburg in the lead 12-5.  The Huskies battled back to cut their deficit to four, before Braun smacked down another kill that led to five more Bobcat points in two more kills from Braun and two attack errors by Bloomsburg.  Both teams swapped points as the set went on, as the Bobcats were able to keep the advantage, with Braun picking up the final point, capturing the 25-18 win in set one for FSU. 
 
The Huskies started out on top 2-1 in set two, before a kill from Kubler, followed by a Bloomsburg attack error tied the game at two apiece.  Frostburg took their first lead of the game at the 4-2 mark, before BU went for a five-point run to hold an 8-4 advantage.  The Bobcats bounced right back for a five-point run of their own to take a 9-8 edge.  Both teams traded leads once more, as FSU found themselves in front 12-10 after a service ace from Siperko.  The game remained close, as the Bobcat's stayed in front after a kill from Braun, with senior Fiona Gonzalez Medina being credited with the assist.  Bloomsburg tied the game at 18 and 19, before taking a three point lead where the score read 22-19 in favor of the Huskies.  Frostburg scored two points off kills from Kunkle and sophomore Paige Mock to get within one, before another attack error by the Huskies and a service ace from Kunkle allowed FSU to regain the lead.  Now tied at 25, both teams swapped a pair of points, before the Bobcats splurged for a trio of points, with Kuebler scoring the final point of the match for a 29-27 Frostburg win. 
 
FSU kept that momentum going in set three, picking up the first four points of the set.  Bloomsburg then rallied with two points, as attack errors from the Huskies continued to become points for Frostburg.  A kill from Braun and a service ace from Siperko kept the Bobcats ahead, as FSU looked for an 11-7 lead.  BU surged for five straight points to take a 12-11 lead, before multiple kills from Braun and Siperko pushed Frostburg back in front for a 18-14 score.  The Huskies were able to get within two, but FSU took advantage of more Bloomsburg errors, while creating offense of their own, as Braun knocked down the three final points for the Bobcats to help the team pull out the 25-22 victory in set three. 
 
Braun led all scorers with 20 kills, while Kuebler dished out 28 assists.  On the defensive end, Gonzalez Medina earned 12 digs, with Kunkle (10) and junior Amanda Knieper (9) right behind her, while Siperko provided four blocks, followed by Mock with three, and Knieper with two. 
 
Braun knocked down the first point for either team in game two, where the Bobcats faced the hosts California (Pa.).  Senior AJ Thompson got in on the scoring action, picking up the next three points for Frostburg, all being kills.  FSU continued to stay in front, seeing kills from Knieper and Kunkle to push the score to 8-5.  Mock and Kuebler worked together to earn a huge block for another Frostburg point, as the Bobcats found themselves up by five.  FSU received three straight points off of errors from CALU, before Kunkle dropped down a kill to have the score read 17-12.  The Vulcans were able to get within two, but Frostburg didn't allow them to get any closer, jumping back in front by five, as Knieper and Kunkle earned the last two points of the set for FSU, allowing them to take a 25-20 win in set one. 
 
Both teams swapped point to begin set two, until CALU went for five straight points to build a 6-2 lead.  Back-to-back kills from Braun brought the Bobcats within two, until Frostburg picked up six straight points of their own, four being kills from Braun, Kunkle, and Knieper.  The Vulcans fought back to bring the score to 10-9, before tying it at 11.  With leads being exchanged once again, FSU received three consecutive points to go ahead 15-12.  CALU was able to surge once again, racking up four points to take a 17-16 lead.  A kill from Braun tied tings at 17 apiece, until the Vulcans broke the tie with a kill.  Frostburg's momentum wasn't done yet, as the Bobcats rallied for three kills and a service ace to take a 21-18 advantage.  With set two on the line, CALU wasn't quite done either, coming back to tie the game at 23.  The Bobcats retook the lead with a kill from Kunkle, before an attack error by CALU gave FSU the 25-23 set two victory. 
 
The Bobcats tacked on the first point of set three, with another kill from Braun.  A duo of kills from Thompson, followed by a service ace from Kuebler, put FSU on top 4-1.  Frostburg kept their energy, picking up both another kill and another ace to increase their lead 7-2.  Kunkle and Mock were seen with a kill, as the Vulcans responded with two points of their own.  The Bobcats remained in front as Mock was credited with two more kills, prior to Braun and Knieper each earning another kill as well.  CALU scored the next two points for either team, bringing the game to 15-11.  Braun swatted down another kill, before the Vulcans received three straight points to get within two.  A kill by Kunkle and a service ace from junior Chloe Del Signore doubled the Bobcat's lead, allowing the score to read 19-15.  FSU proceeded to go on two three-point runs, with Gonzalez Medina pushing the ball to Braun for the final point of the match and a 25-17 win in set three for Frostburg. 
 
Braun led all scorers once again with 17 kills, with Kunkle right behind her with 13, and Thompson hitting seven.  Kuebler dished out a game-high 43 assists, while on the defensive end Braun was credited with 13 digs and Mock put up five blocks. 
 
With the wins, Frostburg moves to 3-3 on the season.  The Bobcats will next play at home, hosting teams for the Bobcat Invitational.  FSU kicks off the tournament on Thursday, September 19 where they play Kutztown at 7 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.