HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson volleyball team took the first set but was unable to overtake the first-place Bryant Bulldogs in the match, ultimately falling 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 19-25, 23-25) at the Rothman Center on Friday evening.
 
In the loss, the Knights (3-15, 0-4 NEC) were led by senior Taylor Wyckoff who tallied a double-double with the third time in the last four matches with 12 kills and 13 digs to go along with a match-high eight total blocks. The eight blocks are the second most by the Knights senior, who tallied nine earlier this season against Lafayette.
 
Three Bulldogs (13-8, 4-0 NEC) recorded double-digit kills in the victory, led by Julian Flynn's 18 tallies. In addition, three Bulldogs also amassed double-digit assists with Kirstyn Sperry totaling 30, Julia Malet 20 and libero Erika Ward with 12 helpers.
 
Wyckoff got off to a hot start with four kills in the first set as the Knights jumped out to a 7-3 lead. Trailing 23-22, the Knights overtook the Bulldogs by scoring the final three points of the frame to nab a 1-0 lead. FDU freshman libero Jamie Rogers racked up seven digs in that opening set and finished with a team-high 15 on the evening.
 
The second set belonged to the Bulldogs from the outset as they jumped out to a 10-3 lead and never looked back. The Bulldogs registered their highest attack percentage of the night, .314, in that second set as Flynn, Alexandra Lunsford and Grace Richmeyer combined for 12 kills and just two errors in the frame.
 
In the third set, the Knights raced out to a 6-2 lead thanks to the effort of freshman Nataliya Rybakova, who provided a pair of kills over that span. Rybakova, who returned to the lineup after missing the team's last few games with an injury, finished with eight kills on 33 attacks in the match, which were both second-most on the team.
 
Still holding a 16-13 edge later in the set, the Knights were unable to fend off a feisty run by the Bulldogs, who surged with eight straight points to take control. Kiley Robbins served as the catalyst for the Bulldogs by hammering nine kills in the set to give her squad a 2-1 lead. Robbins finished with 17 kills on a match-high 37 attacks.
 
The fourth and final set of the night saw the Knights temporarily stave off elimination by erasing a 23-18 deficit. Sophomore Annabel Reyes delivered a pair of huge blocks during the Knights' 5-0 spurt, however, the Bulldogs rebounded to score the final two points of the match, courtesy of kills by Richmeyer.
 
The Knights return to action tomorrow as they continue their long homestand against Central Connecticut State. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m. at the Rothman Center.