SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio – Notre Dame College scored 70 points on Saturday evening, which was the fifth time this season that they scored 70 or more points, but fell to Fairmont State University in five sets.

The Falcons (7-12, 0-5 MEC) lost their first game this season when going five sets. Prior to Saturday, the Falcons had been 3-0 when playing five sets, with the most recent being a 3-2 win over Ursuline College on September 27. The Fighting Falcons (11-6, 3-2) are 4-2 in their last six games. Four of their last six games have gone to five sets, and their record is 3-1 in those games.

NDC led 3-2 in the first set before Fairmont State grabbed the lead by scoring the next three points. Later in the set, Notre Dame was down 10-8 before they jumped back in front with a 6-2 run, which included two kills by sophomore Natalie Spadaro and three kills by senior Melissa Maczuzak. With five kills, three attack errors and a service ace, the Falcons put together a big 9-1 run to go ahead by eight points (23-15), after the game was tied at 14. NDC would go on to win, 25-18.

Fairmont State University went on a 15-3 run after the game was tied at two in the second set. The Falcons really struggled to get back on track and lost the set 25-12.

The third set was very entertaining as the game was tied, 10 separate times in the first half of the set. When the game was tied at 14, the Falcons notched six of the next seven points, which included three kills by sophomore Mary Kate McHugh. The Falcons also closed out the set scoring the final five points, taking advantage of some mistakes by the Fighting Falcons who had two attack errors and a bad set during that scoring run. NDC won the set 25-16.

In the fourth set, Notre Dame was leading 8-7. FSU did not wait long to go 8-2 run and go up 15-10. NDC would fight back and tie the game at 20, before the Fighting Falcons won the set and tied the match at 2 with a 25-22 win.

The fifth set would go in favor of Fairmont State. Notre Dame tied the game at 1, but FSU took the lead and never gave it back, winning the set, 15-11.

"I was really proud of the team tonight," said NDC head coach Troy Haught. "I thought everything was clicking. Our offense was really strong as was our defense and serving. The team put up a great fight and showed a lot of heart, hustle and passion even though we didn't win. If we use that moving forward, we should see a lot of good things happen."

Notre Dame had an attack percentage of .301 in the match, which is the highest percentage in any game this year. Maczuzak recorded 23 kills, 10 digs, 25.5 points and an attack percentage of .341. Sophomore Paige Staudacher had 54 assists and a .500 attack percentage. Spadaro had 17 kills and McHugh recorded 15 kills.

Mackenzie Harrison had 38 kills and 12 digs to go along with 42 points and an attack percentage of .435 for Fairmont State. Alexa Gore had 62 assists and Emma Mobley recorded 11 kills.

The Falcons will have some time off before they travel to Athens, W.Va. to play Concord University on October 13. The match will start at 5 p.m.