The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's volleyball team fell back to .500 in the Northeast Conference (2-2), following a 3-1 setback to visiting Central Connecticut State University, Saturday, Nov. 1. The Blue Devils moved to 3-2 versus league opponents and 8-12 overall.
Senior setter Karolina Kowalski (/North Arlington) (North Arlington, NJ) paced FDU with a double-double of 41 assists and 13 digs. However, her CCSU counterpart Amanda Bayer (Allen, TX), a sophomore, tallied 50 assists and 11 digs.
The Knights fell behind by two games, following losses by counts of 25-19 and 25-21. Central Connecticut hit .308 in the first set ? bolstered a late 5-0 run ? and capitalized on eight errors by Fairleigh Dickinson in the second set. Head Coach Stacey Recanati's squad rebounded for a 25-23 decision in game three, but a .467 attack percentage by CCSU allowed for a 25-16 margin in the clincher.
Senior middle hitter Lauren Boothby (/Voorhees) (Glen Gardner, NJ) smashed a match-high 22 kills, coupled with six digs and three block assists. Senior outside hitter Megan Philbrick (/Elizabeth Seton) (Seabrook, MD) registered 10 kills, eight digs, and three service aces.
Senior libero Jennifer Brugger (/Centreville) (Clifton, VA) collected 15 digs, with freshman libero Kelsey Semler (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) (Allentown, PA) contributing 18 digs. Junior right side Ali Philbrick (/Elizabeth Seton) (Lanham, MD) posted nine digs, with sophomore middle blocker Sarah Berkland (Newton, MA/Newton North) (Newton, MA) adding five kills (.308 attack percentage), and three block assists.
Central Connecticut's Amanda Olmstead (Wilmington, DE) and Jamie Baumert (Elkhorn, NE) both went for 17 kills. The Blue Devils' middle blocker also notched nine digs, with Baumert chipping-in four block assists. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Snyder (Fort Mitchell, KY) quietly accrued a double-double of 11 kills and 17 digs, with sophomore libero Kaitlin Petrella (Stratford, CT) amassing a match-best 27 digs.
The Knights host Robert Morris University at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Rothman Center in Hackensack, NJ.
