HACKENSACK, N.J. – Despite winning the opening set by double-digits, the Fairleigh Dickinson volleyball team fell 3-1 (15-25, 25-11, 25-13, 25-16) to Lafayette at the Rothman Center on Wednesday night.
Junior outside hitter
Magdalena Maksimovic paced the Knights (0-7) with six kills, while junior setter
McKenna Setterlund amassed a double-double with 22 assists and 11 digs.
The Leopards (3-5) featured three hitters with double-digit kills including Leanna Deegan who recorded 15 kills and Grace Tulevech, who tallied 13 kills.
In the opening set, the Knights registered their highest attack percentage of the contest, .148, as the Leopards committed 12 errors on 11 kills. Freshman
Mujay Mambu tallied three kills and defensively, Setterlund and
Sophia Spiridonakos each recorded two blocks in the first-set win.
The Knights jumped out to a 10-4 lead with Spiridonakos and Setterlund tallying a kill apiece along the way. Leading 19-12, the Burgundy and Blue rattled off four-straight points to establish their largest lead of the contest before finalizing the win.
In the second set, the Leopards had the upper hand early and netted a 9-3 cushion. A pair of kills by Ellie Carrera-Justiz spearheaded the surge for the Leopards. Carrera-Justiz would finish with 11 kills in her team's win. The Lafayette lead would continue to grow as they extended it to double-digits before evening the match at 1-1.
After an early deficit, the Knights clawed back in the third set aided by a pair of kills by Mambu and Spiridonakos but still trailed 13-10. The Leopards responded by scoring three straight points and remained in control for the duration of the game.
Five FDU attack errors and a service error helped the Leopards take a commanding 12-4 lead in the fourth frame. The Knights were unable to mount a comeback as Tulevech and teammate Kelly Austin each recorded four kills en route to the win.
The Knights are back in action this weekend when they travel to Providence, R.I. to compete in the Friar Classic. First up is a match against the host Providence this Friday, September 13 at 5:00 p.m.
