ATHENS, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team outlasted Fairmont State in a clash of the two division leaders in the Mountain East Conference Friday night as CU won in five sets inside the Carter Center. .

Concord (17-9, 9-3 MEC) won the first and fourth sets by scores of 25-22 and 25-21 while Fairmont State (23-5, 11-1) took the middle two sets, 26-24 and 25-23. The Mountain Lions won the decisive fifth set 16-14.

In the final set, CU erased a 7-1 deficit as it tied the set at 10-10 on an FSU attack error. After a kill from freshman middle hitter Alivia Stover and another Fairmont State error, the lead grew to 12-10. However, the Fighting Falcons scored four in a row to put Concord on the brink. CU answered with four straight points. Senior outside hitter Chloe Thompson sandwiched a pair of kills around a Fairmont State error, and the match ended on another FSU error.

The Mountain Lions scored the first three points of the match, and never trailed in the first set as they built a lead of 18-10 after a kill from junior right side Maddie Stull. FSU closed to within 21-20, but one of the 21 kills from Thompson was followed by a kill by senior setter Savannah Davila to extinguish the threat.

CU chased the majority of the second set, but ripped off three straight points to tie the set at 24-24. However, the late spurt ran out of momentum as the Fighting Falcons tied the match 1-1. And in the important third set, FSU survived 12 ties and six changes to go up 2-1.

Down 2-1, the Maroon and Gray jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth set after sophomore middle hitter Addie Adkins and Stull teamed up on a block. The lead grew to 20-9 when Adkins smashed a kill. With the commanding lead, Concord had to hang on in the must-win set. With Fairmont State within 23-21, Thompson sent a kill to the floor while senior middle hitter Jasmine Anderson and Stull forced the fifth set with an assisted block.

Thompson finished one kill of her career high with 21 kills to go with 12 digs for her fifth double-double of the season. Senior setter Paige Richmond notched her own double-double with 28 assists and 12 digs.

Anderson just missed her own double-double with 10 kills and eight blocks. Adkins racked up a career-best nine blocks. The Mountain Lions had a season-best 17 blocks which also tied the single-match program record.

Senior libero Allie Davis tallied 27 digs while senior outside hitter Meg Williams recorded a career-high 24 digs.

Davila had 22 assists and eight digs.

The Mountain Lions welcome West Virginia Wesleyan 7:00 p.m. Monday to close out a three-match homestand.