Box Score
HACKENSACK, N.J. -- After playing its way to a 25-23 first set win, the Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team dropped the final three sets to fall, 3-1, to Central Connecticut State in Northeast Conference action on Sunday at Stratis Arena.

The Knights (5-10, 1-1 NEC) split the weekend matches, having beaten Quinnipiac by a 3-0 score yesterday, as the Blue Devils (7-8, 2-0 NEC) remain undefeated in NEC play.

In first set action, FDU grabbed a 10-4 lead on a block by freshman Jordon Collis (Frisco, TX/Frisco) and redshirt junior Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica). The Blue Devils got back into the set and trailed by only one at 15-14 before the Knights strung together three straight points on a CCSU service error and back-to-back aces by freshman Allison Butler (Plano, Texas/Plano) for a four-point cushion.

A long rally that ended with sophomore Hanifa Addi (Springdale, Md./Charles H. Flowers) and freshman Maddie Gibbons (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview Heights) combining on a block made it 19-15 in favor of the Knights. The first set came down to the wire as the score was even at 23 all. A kill by senior Meaghan Wheeler (Chatsworth, CA/Chaminade College Prep) and two-straight aces from Slabakova cemented FDU's win in the set, 25-23. In the set, Wheeler and Collis accounted for six kills apiece.

In the second, CCSU responded with a 6-1 lead out of the gate. The Knights' deficit quickly grew to double digits as the road team took an 11-1 advantage. CCSU led by as many as 15 points at 22-7. Three late kills by Wheeler and a Central Connecticut attack error was all the Knights would muster the rest of the set as the Blue Devils tied the match at one set apiece with a 25-11 win.

It was a back-and-forth third set as the score was tied seven times. With the Knights clinging to a late 18-17 advantage, CCSU went on a 7-0 run to turn its one-point deficit into a six-point lead at 24-18. The Knights were able to put together kills from Butler and Wheeler to get to 20 points, but an FDU service error gave the Blue Devils a 25-20 victory.

The fourth played out like the second set with CCSU jumping out to a quick lead and FDU not being able to recover. Trailing 9-1 in the early going, the Knights fought to start a comeback. FDU hung around until seven of the final 11 points went to CCSU as they closed out a 25-13 win to clinch the 3-1 final.

The Blue Devils were paced by double-doubles from Blaike King (13k-10d) and Emily Cochran (10k-16d), while Makeena Lommori racked up 44 assists. CCSU held the advantage at the net with a .336 hitting percentage to FDU's .097.

Wheeler's final line included a match-high 25 kills to go with 11 digs. It was her ninth double-double of the season and first since Sept. 8 versus Bryant. Collis was second on the team with 12 kills.

Butler recorded 36 assists, making it the eighth time in her freshman season that she has reached at least the 35-assist mark. Slabakova added three service aces, while Addi picked up six block assists.  Sophomore Deborah Hong (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford) reached double-digit digs with 12, as did Wheeler with 11 and freshman Corey Lostetter (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) with 10.  

Next weekend, the Knights will host St. Francis NY on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 1 p.m. before heading to Fairfield, Conn. for a 2 p.m. match against reigning NEC champion Sacred Heart on Sunday, Sept. 30.