Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's volleyball team was defeated in a five-set thrilled by the Sacred Heart Pioneers, 3-2, Saturday afternoon in the annual Dig Pink event to support Breast Cancer Awareness. With the loss, the Knights fall to 1-19 (0-7 NEC) overall. Sacred Heart won 25-22, 24-26, 25-27, 25-15, 15-10.

The Knights will be disappointed in losing such a close game but will be encouraged with their overall great team play. With sophomore Allison Butler (Plano, Texas/Plano) inactive, senior Taylor Roland-Buohl (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) stepped up with a season-high 35 assists. Two freshmen lead the way for FDU in the offensive categories. Courtney Kovensky (Highland, Calif./Citrus Valley) and Alyssa Mcivor had 15 and 14.5 points, respectively, and each had 12 kills to lead the team for the game. Violeta Slabakova (Shelby Township, Mich./Utica) lead the way defensively with 18 digs.

In the first set, the Knights held a 14-10 lead before the Pioneers made up the ground. Both teams traded points up into the 20's before two kills by Jene Lee and two by Dianis Mercado put the set out of reach.

FDU would win the next two sets which both included exciting come-from-behind rallies. From 3-2 onward, Sacred Heart held the lead but the Knights never let that lead get beyond five. FDU's defense through all five sets with on display and were crucial in getting two straight blocks that involved four different Knights which tied the set up at 20-20. Sacred Heart had set point at 24-23 but a service error by Junior Alissa Young kept the door open for the Knights. An error by Jene Lee gave FDU set point and they put it away moments later with a huge block by Hanifa Addi (Springdale, Md./Charles H. Flowers) and Taylor Roland-Buohl (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) on star Pioneer Mercado's kill attempt.

The third set would prove to be the most exciting as FDU clawed their way back from a 20-11 deficit. The Knights ripped off six straight points that involved two blocks, two kills, and two Pioneer errors. Sacred Heart would call a time-out and keep their lead up until set point at 24-23 when two crucial errors gave FDU a second straight set point opportunity. A FDU error made it 25-all until Courtney Kovensky (Highland, Calif./Citrus Valley) had a big kill to get another set point opportunity which FDU converted due to a Mercado error.

The Pioneers came out of the break hungry and playing angry and they made pretty quick work in the fourth set, eventually winning 25-15 on the backs of three separate 3-point runs and two separate 4-point runs. The fifth set would be quick as well as the Pioneers jumped out to a 3-2 lead and never looked back.

For Sacred Heart, their star performer was easily Dianis Mercado who had an astounding 32 kills and 3 aces. She lead the game with 35 points. Alyssa Mesa provided 52 assists and Ana Gonzalez had 20 digs to lead the team defensively.

Next up for the Knights will be Manhattan who visit on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. inside Stratis Arena. It will be the second of four straight home matches.