PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Fairleigh Dickinson volleyball team fell in straight sets to the host Providence Friars 25-22, 25-19, 25-10 on Saturday afternoon at the Friar Classic.
 
The Knights (0-5) were unable to quell the Providence (3-2) attack as the home team racked up 50 kills compared to the Knights' 23 in the contest.
 
Junior outside hitter Erika Sullivan paced the Knights with 10 kills and nine digs, while sophomore McKenna Setterlund handed out 17 assists in the loss.
 
Allison Impellizari posted 15 kills and five blocks to lead the Friars to victory.
 
In the opening set, the Knights erased an early 3-1 deficit to capture a 9-8 lead. With Setterlund serving, newcomers Brooke Stevens and Erin Singer teamed up for a double block and then the Knights tied it on a kill by Magdalena Maksimovic.
 
The teams would trade leads in the set until the Friars eventually rattled off four straight points to stake a 19-16 edge and never trailed again.
 
The Knights started fast in the second set with Sullivan netting a pair of kills en route to a 4-1 lead. A Makismovic kill would make it 16-15 for FDU before the Friars mounted a set-changing rally. With Addison Root serving, the home team scored six in a row to take control of the frame and eventually nab a 2-0 match lead.
 
In the final set, the Knights would again jump out to an early lead before the Friars caught fire. Trailing 4-2, the Friars exploded for 15 straight tallies as the Knights were unable to stop the momentum.  Megan Onyundo served it up for Providence and Impellizari delivered five kills and a block over the course of the run.
 
With a 17-4 cushion in hand, the Friars coasted to the finish to finalize the straight-set win.
 
Each team finished with a pair of aces in the contest, while the Friars won the attack percentage category .333 to .074.
 
The Knights return to the court later today when they close out their trip against UMass Lowell at 3:30 p.m.