FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Notre Dame College played a very close contest with Fairmont State University, even taking a 24-23 lead in the third set, but ultimately came up short in a 3-0 loss, on Friday.

The first set was very close in the beginning of the match. After Notre Dame (13-17, 4-9 MEC) tied the game at three, Fairmont State (19-8, 9-3) scored the next three points. NDC had a tough time coming back and FSU made additional scoring runs of 3-0 and 4-0, which would eventually push their lead to eight (15-7). Later, the Falcons were down 19-12 but went on an 8-3 run of their own to pull within three points. Fairmont State scored the final three points to win the set, 25-19.

In the second set, the Fighting Falcons went on two separate 3-0 runs and several 2-0 runs. Notre Dame had to work hard to get back into the game. Trailing 19-13, the Falcons did use a 4-0 scoring run to close the deficit to two points (19-17). Fairmont State would maintain the lead and won the set by a score of 25-20.

"We let FSU go on a run each set and even though we closed the gap, it's hard to beat a team like that when not playing point for point," said head coach Troy Haught.

Fairmont State jumped out to a 4-1 advantage in the third set. A 5-0 run would give the Fighting Falcons a 9-3 advantage. Again, Notre Dame had to fight back and they did with a 7-2 scoring run later in the set bringing them within two points, 23-21. NDC jumped in the lead by scoring three consecutive points, which was capped with a kill by freshman Lloyana Hunter to put NDC in the lead 24-23. FSU scored three straight points to win the set 26-24.

"I thought overall the team played really well and played together," Haught said. "We played well in every area for the most part. Overall, though, I thought we took a lot from the match to build off of."

Sophomore Mary Kate McHugh had 17 kills, an attack percentage of .314 and 20 points for Notre Dame while sophomore Ali Kaeberlein recorded 29 kills. Sophomore Paige Staudacher had 30 assists and senior Melissa Maczuzak had eight kills and 15 kills.

Mackenzie Harrison, who leads NCAA Division II in kills and points-per-set, had 27 kills tonight, 19 digs and 29.5 points. Emma Mobley finished with 10 kills, 19 digs and 11.5 points. Fairmont State had a .257 attack percentage.

NDC will play Shepherd University, in Shepherdstown, W.Va., on November 4. The match is scheduled to start 4 p.m.