FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State volleyball team fell to the West Liberty Hilltoppers on Friday evening in Bobcat Arena, where it was senior night.
 
The Bobcats opened things up on senior night by recognizing three members of the team, Raven Pratt, Haley Altemus and Hannah Jones. Special thanks went out to these student athletes for all the hard work they have put in at Frostburg over the years.
 
The first set started off with the Bobcats falling behind 6-1 on strong serves from Kirstin Bogunovich. Altemus brought the score to 7-4 on a nice kill, but West Liberty had another good stretch, taking six of seven points and stretching the lead to 14-7. That run was ended by a kill from junior Jackie Sterenberg. From that point on the teams traded points until the Hilltoppers took the set 25-17.
 
The second set opened with a Bobcat point from a Hilltopper error. The teams then played things evenly until momentum swung to WLU. The Hilltoppers took 11 of 13 points off the Bobcats to get to a lead of 17-9. Altemus then had a kill for Frostburg to stop the run. West Liberty finished the second set off with three straight points and a score of 25-15.
 
Frostburg opened the must-win third set with a sense of urgency, playing their best volleyball of the night. Three straight kills from sophomores Hayley Delor and Beverley Braun and another from Sterenberg gave the Bobcats an 8-4 lead. A West Liberty timeout then swung momentum back with a 10-8 lead after six straight points. The last big run from the Hilltoppers would be five straight points and give them match point. A kill from Braun fought off one point before giving way to the final point and 25-16 final set.
 
Sterenberg led the team in kills with eight, Braun and freshman Fiona Gonzalez Medina tied for the team lead with 14 digs each, and redshirt sophomore Hayley Delor finished with 22 assists.
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 8-18, while WLU improves to 19-11. The Bobcats will return to action Tuesday November 9 when they play host to Notre Dame at 7 PM. For more information please visit frostburgsports.com.