FAIRMONT, W.Va. – University of Charleston Women's Volleyball fell to Fairmont State University in a tough five-set battle.

The Basics:
Location: Fairmont, WV
Score: 3-2 FSU (25-22 UCWV, 25-20 FSU, 27-25 FSU, 25-16 UC, 15-10 FSU)
Records: UCWV (17-6, 7-1 MEC), FSU (10-12, 2-4 MEC)

How it Happened:
Fairmont State University had the early lead in set one, but the Golden Eagles evened the score at five and pulled ahead on a service ace by Suzan Agterberg, Fighting Falcons errors and kills by Sage Bearnson and Najla Bray. The set went back-and-forth until Charleston jolted out in front of Fairmont with service aces by Emma Shepherd and Maria Hernandez and kills by Riley Hoff, Pia Selke, Bray and Bearnson. The Golden Eagles concluded the set on a kill by Selke to give them the 25-22 victory over the Fighting Falcons.

Charleston had a slow start in the second frame with Fairmont jumping to a quick 7-2 lead on kills, aces and Golden Eagle errors. However, UC came back to knot the score at seven on errors by the Fighting Falcons and kills by Bearnson, Hoff and Shepherd. Both teams traded sideouts, but Fairmont secured the second set win 25-20.

The Golden Eagles went on to drop the next frame 27-25, but they secured the fourth set win to force a final set. The fourth frame was a tight matchup, as both teams traded sideouts until Charleston broke the 11-11 tie on two service aces by Hoff and kills by Bearnson and McLean. The Golden Eagles won the fourth set 25-16, but dropped the fifth set 15-10.

Sage Bearnson led the Charleston offense with 19 kills, while Riley Hoff led the defense with 20 digs. 

Up Next:
On Friday, October 20, Charleston will host Salem University at 7pm in the Wehrle Innovation Center.