Frostburg State University Athletics

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team fell 3-1 in their Friday road match against Charleston.
 
UC took the first two points of the match from a pair of errors, while FSU hit back through a trio of kills between senior Grace Yocham and freshman Judy Steffens, while freshman Miranda Ball added an ace in taking a 6-3 lead. The sides traded two-point runs up to a 9-7 Bobcat advantage before three consecutive Golden Eagle points had them ahead by one. Senior Maya Johnson and freshman Kayla Greene netted three of the next four points, with the final going to junior Emery Kuebler on an ace, however a 4-1 Charleston run kept them up 15-14. Yocham responded with scores either side of a Steffens spike, with Johnson tacking another on in keeping Frostburg within 20-19. FSU then looked to take full control of the late stages, as senior Raegan Philips and Johnson recorded kills to go with a trio of UC errors in going up 24-20. The hosts fought back by staving off four consecutive set points to tie things up, however their comeback attempt was in vain through Greene finding the floor and a Golden Eagle attack went right into the net for a 26-24 set victory.
 
Charleston put up three of the first four points in the second frame, as the Bobcats swiftly responded through Yocham powering down a trio of kills before Ball netted an ace and Steffens capped a six-point run to lead 7-3. A block between Philips and Greene was followed by another Yocham score before UC found their groove, scoring six unanswered to go up 12-10. Philips ended the run on a spike, then senior Emma Larkins joined in on the action, with a Johnson kill followed by a Charleston error getting FSU back within 15-14. Aided by freshman Gabrielle Morris finding the floor, Frostburg was able to tie things at 17-17 before the Golden Eagles got some momentum with three in a row. Steffens and Larkins then put kills down either side of freshman Rhea Shetty's ace to even the score again, however UC put home the final five points to tie the match and take the set 25-20.
 
Looking to continue their efforts into the third set, Charleston had the first three points but Steffens bookended a 5-1 Bobcat run with kills to go with a Johnson ace. Hitting back, the Golden Eagles netted four of the next five to take a two-point lead, which they held up to a 10-8 score. A couple service errors quelled the run, with Johnson tacking on an ace to sneak ahead, however four unanswered from the hosts got them back in the lead 15-12. Some more Charleston trouble at the service line combined with Johnson and Philips both finding the floor allowed Frostburg to tie things up at 17-17, as the pair later had a combo block in taking a 21-19 advantage. Morris then had two of the next three points on her own in looking to close out the frame, however UC put down three in a row to get to set point at 24-23. FSU stayed alive through an attack error and a Shetty ace, then Greene found the floor and Johnson had a block to go ahead 27-26, however three kills in a row from the Golden Eagles gave them the dramatic 29-27 set win.
 
Needing a response to keep the match going, the Bobcats came out in the fourth with Morris putting up a block, Steffens putting down a pair of spikes, and Ball going for another ace in taking a 5-2 lead. Charleston responded with a 6-1 run before Yocham halted the momentum while sophomore Kylie Appleton scored an ace to tie things at 8-8. UC then took full control in hopes of putting the match away, scoring six unanswered and nine of the next ten for a 17-9 advantage. FSU looked for any way back into things, as Morris hit another solo block followed by a kill, then Johnson added another in getting the deficit down to six. Kills from Yocham, Greene, and Johnson, as well as a Philips block wouldn't amount to enough of a comeback bid, as the Golden Eagles were able to net enough points through the latter stages in winning 25-20 to take the 3-1 match victory.
 
Yocham led all scorers with 12 kills, as Johnson netted a double-double of 10 kills and digs. Ball led the defensive effort with a career-high 29 digs while also tying her personal best of three aces, as Philips put up a match-high four blocks.
 
With the loss, Frostburg drops to 5-12 on the year, while Charleston improves to 11-9. The Bobcats will remain on the road with a quick turnaround to face West Virginia State on Saturday, October 10 at 2 p.m. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.