FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State volleyball team closed out the Capital Athletic Conference portion of its schedule with a decisive 3-2 victory over St. Mary's (Md.), Friday evening at Bobcat Arena.

Sophomore Naya Cheatem posted a career-best 27 kills and 16 digs, while senior Aimee Petrides followed closely behind with 21 kills. Sophomore Madelyn Torres added 54 assists for the Bobcats and classmate Lindsey Scepura led both teams with 28 digs.

FSU (17-15, 5-4 CAC) battled back and forth with St. Mary's (Md.) (15-11, 5-4 CAC) and took the marathon match to five sets for the seventh time this season and went on to win  for the fourth time this year.

The victory clinches a spot for the Bobcats in the upcoming Capital Athletic Conference Tournament. The first-round contest will take place on Tuesday, November 3. A match time and opponent is yet to be determined at a later date.

Despite a slow start in the first game and the visitors scoring the final five points to take a 25-14, 1-0 match lead, the Bobcats came out in game two determined to even the score.

The Seahawks held the lead for most of the second set, but Frostburg persevered and capitalized on seven of the last nine points to overcome a one-point, 19-18 deficit and pull out a 25-21 win to even the match.

Game three saw 10 ties in the score and three lead changes. Down 23-20 late in the set, FSU rallied with four-straight points to grab a 24-23 lead, but St. Mary's used a three-point rally of their own to come back and steal the set, 26-24.

St. Mary's picked up an early 7-5 lead in game four, but Frostburg answered back with three consecutive points to take an 8-7 lead that it never relinquished. The Seahawks closed the match within one, 13-12, but the Bobcats ran away on a 12-5 streak to put the game out of reach and tie the match with a 25-17 win to send the teams to a fifth set.

Thanks to two kills from Petrides in the middle of the set, FSU doubled up SMCM, 8-4. The Seahawks scored the next two points to cut their deficit in half, 8-6, but the Bobcats ran out to a seven-point lead, 13-6. Needing just two points to seal the win for the hosts, St. Mary's battled for four of the final six points, but a kill from Torres gave the Bobcats their final 15-10 win.

Mandy Goodspeed paced the Seahawks with 18 kills while Mimi Graf added 26 assists and Carissa Hill finished the day with 24 digs for the visitors.

The Bobcats return to the court tomorrow, Saturday, October 30 when they face Stevenson at 11:00 am and square up with Catholic at 2:00 pm. Fans can follow all of the action through live video and live stats at www.FrostburgSports.com/Live.