SOUTH EUCLID, OHIO – The Frostburg State Volleyball team fell in their Tuesday road match to Notre Dame (Ohio) by three sets to none.
 
The first set began as a back-and-forth battle, with neither side able to take much momentum, as the Falcons held a narrow 6-5 lead. FSU was able to charge into a 6-1 run to go up 11-7, with kills from redshirt junior Hayley Delor, freshman Amanda Knieper, and a trio by sophomore AJ Thompson, who also combined with Delor on a massive block. The Bobcats were able to push the lead up to 16-11 on a Knieper kill, but NDC slowly worked their way back to down just one at 18-17. Another Thompson-Delor block preceded a kill by junior Beverly Braun to put Frostburg ahead 20-17, but the Falcons rattled off eight of the next nine points to stun FSU and take the set 25-21.
 
The Bobcats were able to shake off the tough loss and got out to an early 5-3 lead in the second set, with Braun providing three kills. Notre Dame eventually swung momentum back in their direction, taking a 13-10 lead midway through the set. After back-to-back Braun kills to get within 13-12, NDC put their foot on the gas to the tune of seven straight points and a commanding 20-12 lead, eventually putting the set away 25-16.
 
With their backs against the wall, Frostburg got out to a 4-1 lead early in set three, with senior Bianca Smalls starting things off on an ace and Braun and Thompson providing kills. Once again, the Falcons flipped the script on FSU, scoring nine in a row to go up 10-4 and eventually 13-6. The Bobcats found some life down 15-8, as Knieper and Thompson combined on a block before sophomore Phoebe Lingold scored an ace to cap a four-point run and get within 15-12. Frostburg continued to climb back into the set, as Thompson recorded a kill and an ace for back-to-back points and getting FSU back within one at 17-16. Notre Dame thought they could put the Bobcats away with four of six points to go up 24-21, but Frostburg dug in and fended off three straight set points with kills from Knieper, Thompson, and Braun to tie things at 24-24. Braun was able to keep NDC at bay on another pair of set points, but ultimately the Falcons prevailed in a 29-27 final set nailbiter.
 
Braun led all scorers with 17 kills, as Thompson joined her in double-digits with 10 and also tying Delor for a team-high three blocks. Sophomore Fiona Gonzalez Medina tallied 17 digs defensively, closely followed by Smalls' 13.
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 16-15 on the year, while Notre Dame improves to 13-18. The Bobcats conclude their regular season on Friday, November 4 at 7 p.m., where it will be Senior Day at Bobcat Arena against Fairmont State. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.