Volleyball Falls in First-Ever Conference Contest with Point Park

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team dropped their road contest to Point Park on Tuesday evening by a final score of 3-1. 
 
Point Park got on the board first off a service ace, helping them start with a 2-0 lead.  Frostburg then started their first run of the game, surging for a 3-3 tie, with senior Beverly Braun knocking down the first point of the game for the Bobcats off a kill.  The Pioneers responded with a string of four points to push ahead 9-5.  FSU was able to squeeze in a point off a service error from PPU, before sparking for three straight points off two kills from Braun to see the score at 13-10.  An error by the Pioneers pushed Frostburg's score up one more, before traded points from both teams brought the game to 14-12, with Point Park still on top.  Everything started to go right for PPU on both sides of the net, as they captured the next six points to advance ahead 20-12.  A kill from junior Amanda Knieper tacked on a point for FSU, as a service ace then from Braun brought the game to 20-14.  Both teams swapped points to round out the set, with sophomore Paige Mock being credited with her first kill of the match, as Point Park came out on top 25-17 in set one. 
 
Braun started off set two with a knock down kill, as the Pioneers took the next three points for a 3-1 lead.  Freshman Dani Kunkle put down a kill for the Bobcat's next point, as a kill from sophomore Maya Johnson and a bad set from PPU put the game at a 4-4 tie.  Frostburg took advantage of an error by Point Park to take their first lead of the game, as back-to-back kills from Knieper and Mock increased their lead to 8-5.  The Pioneers fought to get within one, before tacking on a few points to jump in front 11-10.  A pair of kills from Kunkle gave the lead back to FSU, as kills from senior Brenna Siperko and Knieper pushed their lead to three.  The Bobcats continued to play strong on the offensive end, as a pass from senior Fiona Gonzalez Medina to Knieper for a score, followed by a service ace from Siperko, saw Frostburg's lead at 18-13.  Point Park attempted to rally, taking three consecutive points, but a smack down kill from Knieper gave the momentum back to FSU.  Kunkle played for another set of back-to-back kills, helping the Bobcat's maintain the lead, before PPU fought to get within one for a 24-23 game.  Freshman Emery Kuebler was able to dish the assist to Kunkle for the set winning block, allowing the 25-23 set two victory for Frostburg. 
 
FSU put down the first point of set three off a kill from Johnson.  PPU took the next two points, before the Bobcat's surged for a trio of points for a 5-3 advantage.  Point Park quickly found their rhythm, answering with five straight points to capture a 9-5 lead.  Frostburg earned two points off Pioneer errors, but PPU continued to stay in front, playing for a 14-9 game.  A kill from Johnson, followed by a service ace from Kunkle, put the game at 14-11, but Point Park continued to hold on to their slight advantage.  The Bobcats were able to put together a couple pairs of points, with a kill from Mock and back-to-back service aces from Knieper bringing the score to a 17-17 tie.  Point Park was able to capitalize on two FSU errors to jump back in front 20-17, before playing for a trio of points to increase their lead to 23-18.  Kunkle swatted down one more kill for Frostburg, but the Pioneers were able to hold their advantage for a 25-20 victory in set three. 
 
The Bobcats looked to regain their momentum in set four, picking up the first four points of the set.  PPU answered right back with five consecutive points of their own, capturing a quick 5-4 lead.  Point Park continued to pick up points, earning four more straight points to surge in front 9-5 once again.  Mock was able to show some life for FSU with a kill, but errors from Frostburg gave two more points to the Pioneers.  The Bobcats were able to jump on then two errors from PPU to see the game at 12-9, but the Pioneers stayed in front to increase their lead to five.  Freshman Allison Brown was credited with an assist off a kill from Kuebler, as the latter then set herself up with a service ace, allowing the score to read 16-13.  A trio of points helped Frostburg get within one, as points swapped by both teams kept the set close.  Another set of three points for Frostburg, all being kills from Johnson and Mock, tied the game at 20 apiece.  Point Park looked to end things quickly, jumping to a 24-20 lead, but FSU wasn't done yet, fighting for two more points for a 24-22 game.  With the score not being in the Bobcats favor, PPU smacked down one more kill to take set four 25-22.
 
Kunkle paved the way on both sides of the net for Frostburg, finishing with a team-high in kills (10) and digs (19).  Kuebler was credited with a team-high 27 assists, along with 15 digs and three aces, as Mock provided eight kills and five blocks. 
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 4-8 on the season, while Point Park goes to 3-8.  The Bobcats remain on the road for their next contest, traveling on Thursday, October 3 to face Salem at 7 PM.  For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.