CALIFORNIA, Pa.- The Bobcat volleyball team traveled to California, Pa. for the first day of the Vulcan Invitational. Frostburg State started the day against the host Vulcans, losing in four sets (29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16). Later in the evening, FSU took on the Fighting Scots of Edinboro University, losing in three sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-19). 

 

In the game against the Vulcans, FSU opened the first set with a kill from sophomore outside hitter Beverly Braun. Braun and fellow sophomore outside hitter Laken Michael were leaders in the first set, each with three kills. Also helping in battling Cal U. were junior outside hitter Jackie Sterenberg, freshman middle hitter AJ Thompson, and redshirt-sophomore setter Hayley Delor, with 12 assists and two kills in the long first set loss.  

 

In the second set, it was a fierce battle between the sides, each having multiple uninterrupted points. FSU had a seven-point continuous stretch with multiple errors coming from the Vulcans and a kill coming from Delor. The Bobcats would end up closing the set with a final kill coming from Braun, which was their first set win of the year.  

 

In the third and fourth sets, Frostburg put up a fight, but ultimately fell in both. Leaders in the match were Braun, Sterenberg, and Michael with 12, 11, and 10 kills respectively. Junior defensive specialist Bianca Smalls and Thompson each had two service aces and Delor lead the Bobcats in assists and tied for the lead in digs with freshman libero Fiona Gonzales Medina with 19. The loss put FSU at 0-5 on the year, while Cal U sits at 4-2. 

 

Later that night, the second match for FSU took place against the Fighting Scots. In the first set, FSU came out strong with a kill and block coming from Michael and service aces from Delor, Braun, and sophomore defensive specialist Jenna Gossard. Despite the efforts made by the Bobcats, Edinboro came out with a victory in the first set. 

 

In the second and third sets, Frostburg came out with a fighting spirit, with multiple kills from Braun, Delor, and Thompson, along with a service ace from Smalls. The Bobcats would have stints where they would accumulate multiple uninterrupted points, coming from Gossard, Braun, Sterenberg, and Thompson. Leaders on the night were Braun and Thompson with eight and six kills respectively. Braun and Smalls led in service aces with two apiece, while Delor led in assists and junior libero McKenna Houser leading in digs with 11. Frostburg dropped to 0-6 in the loss, while Edinboro improved to 2-0. 

 

The Bobcats are in action tomorrow from California, Pa. where they take on the Raiders of Shippensburg at 10 AM. Later that night, they will take on the Huskies of Bloomsburg University at 4 PM. For more information, visit www.forstburgsports.com.