ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team dropped a four-set match to West Virginia State Wednesday night in Mountain East Conference play at the Carter Center.

The Mountain Lions (4-18 , 1-6 MEC) won the third set but could not overcome a 2-0 hole in the match as it lost 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19 to WVSU (18-7, 4-3 MEC).

West Virginia State jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the first set before the Concord went on a 10-4 run to knot the game up at 16-16. Senior outside hitter Ellie Lawrence paced the run with three of her team-high 14 kills. At 16-16, neither team was able to lead by more than points, but the Mountain Lions never led during the stretch either as the Yellow Jackets won by two points.

WVSU controlled the second set as it finished the game on a 9-3 run after Concord tied the set at 16-16 on an attack error by the Yellow Jackets, but once again the Mountain Lions could not overtake West Virginia State in the game falling by six points.

The third set was CU's game as the Maroon and Gray raced out to a 7-1 lead after two kills and two blocks each from senior middle hitter Brooke Heck and freshman middle hitter Sheridan Herron. However, the Yellow Jackets slowly chipped away at the Concord lead as the Mountain Lions could not put away WVSU easily. Tied at 22-22 late in the set, two errors from West Virginia State and a kill from Heck propelled Concord to a third-set win.

Much like the first two games, West Virginia State grabbed an early lead and didn't allow the Mountain Lions to lead at any point in the fourth set. CU was able to tie the game at 19-19 after a kill from sophomore right side Kenzie Coulter, but WVSU rattled off the next six points to take the set and the match.

Along with Lawrence, Heck finished with double-digit kills as she notched 10. Herron added eight kills on the night.

Junior setter Jenna Mounts went for 21 assists while freshman setter Imani Rodgers tallied 20 assists.

Senior libero Erin Shannon racked up a match-high 14 digs in the defeat.

Concord continues its home stand 7:00 p.m. Friday night against Shepherd.