Frostburg State University Athletics

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Volleyball team fell 3-0 against Shippensburg to conclude the Bobcat Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

FSU couldn't have asked for a better start to the opening set, as senior Grace Yochum joined sophomore Adele Evans on a block, with the latter adding a kill after back-to-back aces from senior Alyssa Stanton for a 5-0 lead. The Raiders were able to respond with a four-point rally, eventually getting to within 7-6 after a few Bobcat errors. Frostburg looked to regain their momentum, as freshman Gabrielle Morris found the floor twice, junior Allison Brown hit an ace, and sophomore Alliyah McNair spiked one down to go up 10-6. Once again, Shippensburg answered, putting in four of the next five, as Morris, McNair, and Evans all provided offense in allowing the Bobcats to stay ahead 14-11. SU wouldn't be deterred, as they took five of the next six to give FSU their first deficit of the day at a 16-15 score. A kill from Morris and a Shippensburg error gave FSU back the lead before both teams went on 4-0 runs, with Brown and McNair going back-to-back to narrowly lead 21-20. The Raiders then went on to score five of the last six points, using a pair of kills and three errors to take the opening set 25-22. 

The Raiders continued their momentum into the second set, scoring the first six points en route to a 9-2 lead early on. Frostburg tried to settle things down, as Yochum powered a ball down while Brown had an ace to pull within three, but three straight from the visitors kept them ahead 13-7. Morris, Evans, and Yocham each found the floor in hopes of getting back into the set, however SU scored eight of the next twelve points to make it a double-digit advantage at 21-11. Freshman Judy Steffens earned her first point of the day while McNair added a score of her own, as Shippensburg eased to the 25-15 set win. 

Yocham was a force to be reckoned with at the start of the third set, as she earned four of FSU's first six points through kills, as a Stanton ace and Steffens score put them ahead narrowly 6-5. After the Raiders tied things up, McNair found the floor twice followed by a service ace from freshman Miranda Ball, as McNair then joined Evans on a block to put the Bobcats up 11-9. In similar fashion to the first set, SU was able to steal momentum, going on a 7-2 run turn the score around at 15-12. Frostburg responded by matching SU at 15 apiece, aided by an ace from Evans, before both teams went back and forth for the lead up to 18-18. The Bobcats' hopes of keeping the match going were dashed on six straight Raider points to win the set 25-18 and complete the sweep.

Yocham, Morris, and McNair led the offense with seven kills apiece, as Ball and sophomore Pia White combined for 13 digs, with Stanton serving up a trio of aces.

The loss brings FSU's record to 2-5 as the Raiders improve to 5-2 on the year. Frostburg is back in action on Friday, September 11, for the start of the Slippery Rock Tournament, facing the host team at 5 PM. For more information, please visit frostburgsports.com.