The Davis & Elkins Volleyball team fell to #2 Fairmont State on Thursday (Nov. 10) night in the Mountain East Conference Quarterfinal Match at the Wehrle Innovation Center in Charleston, W.Va. The loss ends what was another promising season for the Senators as they look to build on their successes this year. This was the fourth straight appearance in the MEC Tournament for D&E.
The Senators had two players with double-digit kill totals. All-MEC Second Team honoree Macie Magallon swung for a match-high 20 kills and added 3 blocks. Senior Maria Isabel Butruce Candiota ended the match with 10 kills and 9 digs, and senior Libero Mariah Autobee hustled for a match-high 25 digs.
An All-MEC Honorable Mention recipient, senior Brilane Manchego contributed a well-rounded stat line with 3 kills, 36 assists, 1 service ace and 1 block.
D&E got off to a slow start in the match. They stayed even with the Falcons for the first part of the opening frame but fell behind on runs of 5 and 6 straight points from Fairmont State to drop the set 25-15.
The Senators competed hard early in set 2 as both teams split the first 22 points, with Candiota leading the way with 3 kills in the set and Fairmont State committing several attack and service errors to keep the set close to that point. The Falcons were then able to jump out to a two-point lead following a Senators' attack error and a service ace. D&E couldn't overcome two separate three-point runs that increased the Fairmont State lead to six points at 19-13 and ultimately dropped the set 25-16.
D&E fought back in set 3, winning four-straight decisions and leading 10-5 after the first 15 points. The Senators then went on a 5-1 run, lead by Magallon with a block and 2 kills, increasing their lead to eight. The Senators manufactured three separate two-point runs that pushed their lead to nine points. Magallon fired the final two kills of the set and the Senators forced a fourth set following a 25-16 set three win.
The fourth set was a back and forth affair with scoring runs on both sides. The Senators fell behind early, trailing 5-1 but battled back into the set to cut the Fairmont lead to one point after a kill by Brianna Portley made it 7-6. Davis & Elkins continued to fight and accumulated five-straight points to keep the Fairmont State lead at three. Magallon pulled the Senators within two points at 21-19, but Fairmont was able to close out the set and ultimately the match with a final score of 25-20.
"These seniors...truly gave everything to building and developing this program to be one of the best in the MEC," said D&E head coach Jordan Willis. "It has been my pleasure to have coached these girls over the years. They will be missed but never forgotten with their countless program record breaking performances. They have set the foundation for future successes. But most importantly & beyond the volleyball, I couldn't be more proud of this group and love them more than they know!"
The Senators finish their season 3rd in the MEC south conference, 15-14 overall, 8-8 in conference play.
Original source can be found here.
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