FROSTBURG, Md. - Katie Benham smashed 17 kills to lead Villa Julie past Frostburg State, 3-1, in volleyball action Tuesday evening at Bobcat Arena.

The Bobcats fall to 2-8 on the year while the Mustangs improve to 4-2.

In game one, the teams battled back and forth with neither squad taking more than a two-point lead until VJC surged ahead, 17-14.

The Mustangs continued the momentum, scoring six-straight points to take a 23-17 advantage. The Bobcats were able to narrow the gap to 28-24 but the visitors would take game one, 30-25.

Villa Julie rushed out of the gates in game two, opening leads of 8-3 and 10-4.

FSU battled back and tied the game at 16 and took a 20-18 lead on a kill by sophomore Caryn Wright (Pikesville, Md./Western Tech). VJC took the lead for good at 22-21 and went on for a 30-26 win.

Frostburg State rebounded in game three for a 30-16 win. Freshman Brooke Winterling (Glenelg, Md./Glenelg) smashed three kills early in the match to help the Bobcats to a 6-1 lead.

Villa Julie battled back to narrow the gap to 8-7, but Wright had three kills to lead FSU to a 17-10 lead. Frostburg State continued to dominate, extending the lead to 22-13 before going on to win game.

In the fourth game, VJC jumped out to a 10-4 lead but watched as the hosts stormed back to a 13-11 advantage behind the serving of junior Sarah Nugent (Cockeysville, Md./Dulaney).

The Mustangs would again take the lead at 23-19, but FSU would make another charge to tie the game at 23. After the teams were gridlocked at 26, Villa Julie scored three-straight points late in the game to earn the win.

Winterling led the charge with 23 kills and freshman Chelsea Wassell (Westernport, Md./Southern Garrett) had her best output as a Bobcat with 15 kills.

Senior Amanda Hernandez (Crofton, Md./Arundel) posted 53 assists and sophomore Jennifer Wheaton (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) had 15 digs.

The Bobcats return to the court on Friday, September 15 at the Maryland Division III State Championships on the campus of St. Mary’s College.