Volleyball Comes Up Just Short in Five Setter with Fairmont

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team fell just shy in their five set thriller on Tuesday night against Fairmont State, dropping the home contest 3-2. 
 
Frostburg got on the board first to start off the night, with freshman Emery Kuebler dishing a pass to senior AJ Thompson for a knock down kill.  Fairmont took the next two points, before the Bobcats received their second point of the match off an attack error from the Falcons.  Fairmont sored for the next three points, as Frostburg was able to squeeze points in between the Falcon's runs, as freshman Dani Kunkle and sophomore Maya Johnson each swatted down a kill.  The score read 10-4, before the Bobcats picked up three points, with junior Amanda Knieper being credited with her first kill of the match to put the game at 11-7.  The Falcons continued to rally to remain in front, until Frostburg stole four consecutive points, all off errors from Fairmont, as the Bobcats were able to get within two.  Frostburg remained within two as the next few points were exchanged until another strand of four points saw the game at 18-18.  A kill from Knieper, followed by a service ace from Johnson, helped the Bobcats jump in front 22-20, before the Falcons were able to tie things up once again.  Two points contributed by Knieper put Frostburg back on top by two, as a kill from Kunkle sealed the 25-23 victory in set one for the Bobcats.
 
Keeping their momentum from the set one victory, Frostburg tallied the first three points of set two, with Thompson and Knieper earning kills.  The Bobcats continued to stay in front, seeing three points off two errors from the Falcons and a kill from Johnson, to put the score at 6-5.  Frostburg pushed for a three point lead, before Fairmont captured six straight points for their first lead of the set and a 12-9 match.  Points provided by Johnson, Knieper, and Thompson kept the Bobcats within two, before a service ace from freshman Devin Brunk brought the team within one 15-14.  Both teams exchanged points back and forth, as Fairmont continued to hold the slight edge.  Johnson and Thompson helped Frostburg put some points up off kills, but the Bobcats were unable to rally to jump back in front, falling in set two 25-21. 
 
Kunkle swatted down the first point of set three, off an assist from Kuebler.  Frostburg kept in front, receiving points off attack errors from the Falcons, and Knieper and Johnson each putting down a kill.  A pair of kills from Knieper put the Bobcats on top 6-3, before another kill and a service ace from Knieper helped push Frostburg ahead 10-6.  The Bobcats continued to fight, holding on to their slight advantage, jumping ahead by three with a 15-12 score.  Knieper and Kunkle worked together to keep Frostburg on top by as much as three, putting the game at 17-14.  Kunkle, Johnson, Thompson, and Knieper kept the Bobcats going on offense, each racking up kill after kill, guiding Frostburg to put Fairmont away in set three.  Kunkle hit down the final two points of the set, with freshman Allison Brown being credited with an assist, as the Bobcats remained on top for the 25-22 victory.   
 
Again both teams swapped point to start the set, as Frostburg built the first advantage of the game in set four.  Senior Brenna Siperko put down a kill, followed by Kunkle with a service ace to put the Bobcats on top 5-3.  Fairmont had seen enough, taking the next four points to get ahead 7-6.  Frostburg answered right back with a trio of points, with Johnson, Knieper, and Kunkle each receiving a kill, putting the Bobcats back in front 9-7.  The Falcons struck for another strand of points, rallying for an 11-9 lead, prior to a 13-10 lead.  Thompson knocked down a kill for Frostburg, but everything seemed to be going right for Fairmont, as they found themselves in front 20-11.  The Bobcats started to show life, as Brown was credited with a kill, along with the Falcons seeing two attack errors for a 20-14 game.  To cut the set to a three point game, Kunkle and Knieper saw kills, rallying Frostburg to put the game at 22-19.  Kunkle and Johnson swatted down one more kill each, but the Bobcat's comeback came up just short, as Fairmont came out with a 25-21 win to stay alive. 
 
Kunkle smacked down the first kill of the fifth and final set to put Frostburg in the lead, but Fairmont was ready to determine the match, winning the next eight points.  The Bobcats received three consecutive points off attack errors from the Falcons to put the score at 8-4, but Fairmont surged back for an 11-4 score.  Johnson helped put another point on the board for Frostburg, but the Falcons held on to their advantage, increasing it to 13-7.  The Bobcats were able to get within four as Thompson scored the final point of the match for Frostburg, but Fairmont came out on top 15-10 to take the 3-2 overall victory. 
 
Kunkle led Frostburg offensively, providing 15 kills, while also putting up 19 digs on defense.  Knieper (15), Thompson (13), and Johnson (13) were next up in kills, while Kuebler dished out a game-high 58 assists while also going for 23 digs.  Senior Fiona Gonzalez Medina finished with a game-high 38 digs. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 6-11 on the season, while Fairmont moves to 14-6.  The Bobcats now start their three-game road trip, traveling to face Charleston (WV) at 7 PM on Friday, October 18 for their next match up.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.