FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team lost their home match to Notre Dame (Ohio) on Tuesday evening in a 3-0 sweep, though the match was closer than the final score indicated.
 
In the first set, FSU jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead, highlighted by a pair of kills from junior Beverly Braun and aces by senior Bianca Smalls and sophomore AJ Thompson. The Falcons were eventually able to reset and tie the game back up at 6-6, but Frostburg went on a five-point run with kills from freshman Joie Allen and junior Katie Keech and Braun adding an ace. Both sides traded points up to 16-13, where the Bobcats took four of the next five points with kills from junior McKaily Thomson-Moran and Braun either side of an ace by senior Edwyna Lainez for a 20-14 lead. Once more, NDC clawed their way back to 23-20, though a Braun kill gave FSU four set points at 24-20. Notre Dame kicked into another gear, storming back with a 7-1 run to win the set 27-25.
 
Frostburg began the second set much like the first by taking a 6-0 lead on an ace by Thompson, kills by Braun and Thomson-Moran, and a combined block between Thomson-Moran and redshirt junior Hayley Delor. The Bobcats pushed the lead to 7-2, but the Falcons took four straight points to move within one. FSU tried to pull away on multiple occasions, but couldn't get a lead of more than three, allowing Notre Dame to rally at take their first lead of the set at 17-16. Frostburg kept fending off the Falcon attack, but ultimately could not find enough points, as NDC took the set 25-23.
 
Set three started just as the first two sets had, with FSU out to an early 8-3 lead on the back of four Braun kills. Frostburg eventually got out to leads of 12-7 and 15-9 with kills from Braun, Thomson-Moran, and Thompson, but the Falcons again found a response to get within 16-15. Braun earned another ace to maintain an 18-15 lead, but six straight Notre Dame points spelled the end to FSU's match rally, eventually winning the set 25-19 for the match sweep.
 
Braun was the standout performer on the night, recording match-highs in kills (17), digs (15), and aces (3). Sophomore Jenna Gossard (14), freshman Amanda Knieper (14) and Smalls (13) all added double-digit digs, while Lainez had her second-most assists on the season at 26.
 
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 13-6, while Notre Dame improves to 8-11. The Bobcats return to action at home on Friday, September 30 to face West Liberty in Bobcat Arena at 7 p.m. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgsports.com.