Institute, W.Va.— The University of Charleston women's volleyball team advanced to the second round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Fairmont State on Thursday at the Walker Convocation Center.

The Basics:
Location: Walker Convoctaion Center
Score: 3-1 (UC)
Records: UC 25-7 (12-3 MEC), Fairmont 18-14 (7-7 MEC)

How it Happened: 
The Golden Eagles came out strong in the first set, hitting .389 as a team to take a 25-19 win. Emma Shepherd led the charge with six kills, while Patrycja Majos added three to secure the early advantage.

Fairmont State responded in the second set, capitalizing on Charleston's errors to edge out a 25-23 victory. Despite the loss, Shepherd and Riley Hoff contributed key points to keep Charleston close.

Charleston rebounded in the third set with a dominant 25-21 performance. Pia Selke recorded five kills in the set, and Kate Strong anchored the defense with critical blocks that shifted the momentum back to the Golden Eagles.

The fourth set was all Charleston, as the team cruised to a 25-12 victory. Shepherd and Majos each tallied four kills, while setter Abby Avila orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing the match with 21 assists.

Up Next:
The No. 2 South Division seed Golden Eagles (25-7) will face the No. 1 North Division seed Wheeling University in the second round of the MEC Women's Volleyball Tournament. The match will take place Friday at the Walker Convocation Center in Institute, W.Va., as Charleston seeks to continue its postseason run.