Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- After winning its first set against LIU Brooklyn in four matches, the Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team could not overcome LIU's high-powered offense in a 3-1 Northeast Conference loss Wednesday night at Stratis Arena.

The Knights (8-16, 4-7 NEC) became the first NEC team to win a set against the Blackbirds (18-7, 11-0) since a 3-2 win over Sacred Heart on Sept. 22, 2012. FDU has now lost two matches in a row, while LIU is undefeated in its last 12 matches.

LIU put together 55 kills to just 11 errors on the night and finished with a .338 attack percentage. After FDU's 25-21 win in the first set, the Blackbirds responded with wins of 25-14, 25-14 and 25-14 to remain undefeated in conference play.

In the first set, the Blackbirds jumped out to a 9-3 advantage before FDU was forced to use a timeout. The Knights were able to chip away at the lead and facing a 16-14 deficit, reeled off four points in a row to take an 18-16 edge. During that stretch, freshman Maddie Gibbons (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview Heights) recorded a kill and assisted on two blocks with sophomore Hanifa Addi (Springdale, Md./Charles H. Flowers).

The score remained close in the first, and with a 22-21 lead, FDU received two kills from senior Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) and a point on an attack error by LIU to come away with a 25-21 first-set victory.

The Knights again dug themselves an early hole, this time down 7-1 to kick off the second set. FDU kept the set competitive until the Blackbirds went on an 11-1 run turning its 10-8 lead into a 21-9 lead. Down the stretch, LIU proved to be too much and won the set, 25-14, to even the match. In the set, LIU had a .421 attack percentage with 17 kills to one error.

The third and fourth sets played out much like the second where LIU built up early momentum and eventually took 25-14 set wins. In the third, FDU showed fight by winning three of the final six points, but it proved to be too-little-too late as LIU took a 2-1 lead in the match.

In the fourth and final set, LIU went on a 7-1 run to begin the set and after two FDU points followed up with a 5-0 run for a 12-3 lead. Again, the Knights strung together late points, but it was not enough as the Blackbirds came away with a 25-14 win.

For LIU, reigning NEC Rookie of the Year Annika Foit led the way with 20 kills, while Bianca Muniz chipped in with 10 kills and six block assists.

With 34 assists on the match FDU freshman Allison Butler (Plano, Texas/Plano) brought her season total to 796 to surpass Jamie Kluemper for eighth all-time in single season history. Butler also added 13 digs for her eighth double-double of the season.

Wheeler proved to be a force on offense with a match-best 22 kills. Freshman Jordon Collis (Frisco, TX/Frisco) was second on the team with eight kills. On defense sophomore Deborah Hong (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) racked up 13 digs and Addi helped at the net with a solo block and four block assists.

This weekend the Knights will play two crucial Northeast Conference matches. On Saturday, Oct. 27, FDU will head to Brooklyn, N.Y. to take on St. Francis NY at 1 p.m. then return to Stratis Arena for a 3 p.m. match against Sacred Heart on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 3 p.m.