Box Score FAIRMONT, W.Va. – The UVa-Wise women's volleyball team fell in three sets Friday night on the road at Mountain East Conference opponent Fairmont State to end the regular season. The Cavaliers lost in straight sets (25-17, 25-20, 27-25) to the host Fighting Falcons, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MEC Volleyball Tournament with the win.
 
With the loss the Cavs end the regular season 15-16 overall and 10-6 in MEC play, while Fairmont State improves to 22-7 overall and 13-2 in conference matches. UVa-Wise ends the regular season losing six of their past seven matches, however, the 15 wins this season is the most for the program since the 2007 season. Furthermore, 15 match victories is a single-season high for Head Coach Kristen Salyer in her fourth season.
 
Despite being shutout the Cavs continued to fight until the end, improving their score in each set. The Fighting Falcons jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in the opening set before the Cavs made it a one-point game at 7-6. From there Fairmont State did not let up and stayed in command the rest of the set. UVa-Wise was not able to get any closer and fell 25-17 in the set one.
 
Once again in the second set the Fighting Falcons took control early, mounting an 11-6 lead that soon inflated into a 15-9 advantage over the Cavs. Down 21-12 UVa-Wise began a comeback to win eight of the following 12 points. However, the push was a little too late as Fairmont State held on to claim the set 25-20 and take a two sets to none lead.
 
The third set proved to be UVa-Wise's best set in the match with the Cavs carrying over their second-set fight into the third. The Fighting Falcons grabbed an early 7-3 lead before junior outside hitter Karley Allen recorded an ace to tie up the set at eight-all. Both teams would exchange points as the Cavs held a slight advantage at 14-12. With the score tied at 16-16 UVa-Wise won five consecutive points to mount a 21-16 lead before the Fighting Falcons stormed back and won six straight points, stealing the lead at 22-21. At 22-all both the Cavs and the Fighting Falcons could not win back-to-back points until UVa-Wise held set point at 25-24. Fairmont State then strung together three consecutive kills to end the Cavs' hope of extending the match, winning the third set 27-25 and clinching the match.
 
UVa-Wise hit .177 in the match and recorded 36 total kills, while the Fighting Falcons made 50 kills off of an attack percentage of .317. The Cavs totaled 51 digs, 36 assists, five service aces and three total team blocks. Fairmont State got 59 digs, 48 assists, five service aces and eight total team blocks.
 
Allen led the Cavs on offense with 12 kills to go along with 13 digs as freshman middle blocker Amanda Auxier added 10 kills off of hitting .316. Junior Erin Anderson led UVa-Wise on offense with 14 digs while freshman setter Chandler Rouse made 33 assists.
 
Fairmont State's Kaitlyn Witsaman registered a match-high 14 kills as Mackenzie Harrison and Courtney Kress each tallied 10 kills of their own. Erin Harwood made a match-high 16 digs for the Fighting Falcons while Jessica Furda dished out 41 assists. Witsaman, Harrison and Kress all hit over .300 with Witsaman recording an attack percentage of .481.
 
The Cavs will now head to the MEC Volleyball Tournament this upcoming Thursday, which will take place on the campus of the top seed. UVa-Wise will have to wait until the conclusion of MEC regular season matches Saturday before the complete MEC tournament bracket is released and the Cavs find out their first-round opponent. The Cavs will be the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will play Thursday at 5 p.m.
 
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