WHEELING, W.Va. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team dropped their road contest to the Wheeling Cardinals on Tuesday night by a final score of 3-0.
Sophomore Maya Johnson knocked down the first point of the match for either team, before Wheeling went on to soar for the next five points. Frostburg picked up a pair of points off a service error from the Cardinals, followed by a service ace from freshman Devin Brunk, bringing the set to 5-2. Both teams then swapped a score each, with freshman Emery Kuebler being credited with a kill, as WU was able to rupture for 10 consecutive points and a dominate 16-4 lead. Kuebler dished to freshman Dani Kunkle for a break of scores from Wheeling, before the Cardinals took the next duo of points. FSU took a trio of points off a kill from senior AJ Thompson, a service ace from sophomore Alyssa Stanton, and another kill from Kuebler, seeing the game at 18-8. WU took the next four points, as the Bobcats sprinkled in two more scores on their end, before dropping set one 25-10.
FSU got off to a quick start, gaining their rhythm to open set two, as kills from Kunkle, senior Brenna Siperko, and junior Amanda Knieper put Frostburg on top 4-2 to start. Wheeling quickly surged in front, gaining an 8-4 advantage, before Thompson put down a kill to put the Bobcats back on the board. The Cardinals kept their momentum going, taking another five consecutive points, putting the score at 13-5. Both teams exchanged multiple points back and forth, with Knieper earning a kill and Kunkle providing three, as the game saw 15-9. WU continued to fight to stay in front, as Frostburg threatened with a strand of three points to get within four, 21-17. FSU picked up one more point in the set, off an attack error from Wheeling, falling in set two 25-18.
Each team earned a point to start the third set, before Wheeling built up a 4-2 lead. The Bobcats fought to tie things up at six apiece, with help from Siperko, Johnson, and Kunkle. Three consecutive points from Frostburg put them on top 9-7, as Johnson swatted down the final kill of the rally. The Cardinals then took over, jumping in front 11-9, before FSU made it a one point game off a kill from Knieper. Off two service aces from Knieper, Frostburg again took the lead, holding on to a 13-12 advantage. Battling back and forth, the set saw eight straight ties, until WU took advantage of two attack errors from the Bobcats to find themselves up 22-20. Frostburg made up for it, capturing the next two points to set up another tie, this time 22-22. Seeing ties at 23 and 24, Wheeling rallied for the final two points of the set, coming out on top 26-24.
Kunkle led the offense for Frostburg, pounding out 12 kills, while picking up eight digs on the defensive end. Kuebler dished out a team-high 30 assists, while freshman Allison Brown led the way in digs with 10, as senior Fiona Gonzalez Medina was right behind her with nine.
With the loss, Frostburg falls to 6-9 on the season, while Wheeling improves to 10-7. The Bobcats remain on the road for their next match, facing the Hilltoppers of West Liberty on Friday October 11 at 7 PM. For more information and updates, please visit frostburgsports.com.
