PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Fairleigh Dickinson volleyball team dropped its opening match at the Friar Classic 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-23) to host Providence on Friday evening.
 
In the loss, freshman Mujay Mambu hammered 11 kills and classmate Cloe Abadie Calderon turned away a career-high four blocks.
 
The Friars (4-4) were led by Jennifer Leitman and Jenae Alderson who finished with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.
 
The Knights recorded seven total blocks compared to the Friars, who finished with four however, the home team amassed 51 kills and limited FDU to 27 in the contest.
 
In the opening set, the Knights held a 13-12 lead thanks in part to Mambu, who registered four kills over that span but the host Friars responded with four straight tallies and never trailed again en route to the 1-0 match lead.
 
Leitman helped the Friars jump out to a 7-2 edge in the second set and the home team maintained control for the duration, finishing with a .324 attack percentage in the frame and winning by 11 points.
 
The third set was the most tightly contested of the evening. After falling behind 6-2, the Knights fought back and took a 13-12 edge after back-to-back kills by Abadie Calderon and Mambu. The FDU lead would grow to three, 19-16, after Abadie Calderon and junior Magdalena Maksimovic teamed up for a double block, which forced a Providence timeout.
 
Later in the set, a kill by junior outside hitter Victoria Demmene provided the Burgundy and Blue with a 23-22 lead however, the Friars tallied the final three points of the contest including a match-clinching kill by Alderson.
 
The Knights continue the Friar Classic with two matches tomorrow. First up is Brown at 11:00 a.m. before the weekend finale against Coppin State at 3:30 p.m.