CHARLESTON, W.Va - The University of Charleston would kick off day two of the MEC Volleyball Tournament by taking on the Fairmont State Falcons, who came into the tournament as the number two seed from the North Division. The Golden Eagles ended the night with a straight-set sweep over the Falcons.
The Basics
Location: Charleston, W.Va (Wehrle Innovation Center0
Score: Charleston 3, Fairmont State 0
Records: UC (32-2, 15-1 MEC); FSU (29-5, 15-3 MEC)
How It Happened
Set one was all Golden Eagles as they got out to a quick start taking a 6-4 lead on a kill by
Sage Bearnson. The Golden Eagles would continue to dominate as a
Pia Selke kill would give the Golden Eagles the first set by a score of 25-21. Charleston his .246 in the first set, compared to the Falcons' .173.
The second set once again saw the Golden Eagles jump out to a lead, this time with a 7-2 score. A
McKenzie Carpenter kill gave the Golden Eagles their seventh point of the set. An attack error by the Falcons gave UC an 8-2 lead and forced Fairmont State to burn their first timeout of the set. Later in the set, a
Bearnson kill gave the Eagles a 15-7 lead. Another
McKenzie Carpenter kill would give the Golden Eagles their twenty-first point of the set and a 21-11 lead. UC took the second set 25-16 and a 2-0 lead in the set.
Selke led the way offensively through both sets with 10 kills.
The third set saw both teams trade the first 10 points before the Falcons were able to go on a quick 3-1 run to take an 8-6 lead. The Golden Eagles would answer with a run of their own to tie the set at 8 all. After Fairmont State took a lead, UC was able to claw back to level the set at 15. A
Bearnson kill would give the Golden Eagles a 17-16 lead.
Selke continued her domination in the match as her kill caused Fairmont to burn their first timeout of the set with UC having a 20-17 lead. Fairmont State would then go on another run to make the score 21-20 and force the Golden Eagles to burn a timeout. A Falcons attack error would give UC the lead back, 23-22, and force Fairmont State to burn their final timeout. A Fairmont kill would make the score 24-23 UC and UC would burn their final timeout in the third set. With a block from
Selke and
Reagan McLean, the Golden Eagles took set 25-23 and the match 3-0.
Offensively,
Selke,
Bearnson, and
Damon reached double-digit kills with 17, 11, and 10.
Carpenter also had a solid offensive day, hitting .429 on 14 attacks.
Maria Hernandez continued her stellar season, hitting .600 on the day and dished out 40 assists.
Defensively
Hernandez (13),
Damon (12), and
Erin Carmody (22) reached double-digits digs.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles advance to the MEC Championship tomorrow at 6PM and will face the winner of the Wheeling Cardinals and West Liberty Hilltoppers match.
