HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Fairleigh Dickinson volleyball team was edged in straight sets by Bryant in its Northeast Conference opener at the Rothman Center on Friday night. The Knights lost the three sets by a combined total of 10 points, 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 as the Bulldogs came away with the key points to net the win.
 
The Knights' leading hitter this season, freshman Mujay Mambu, led the way with six kills, while sophomore Sophia Spiridonakos and junior Magdalena Maksimovic each tallied four. Maksimovic added a season-high five blocks to her ledger in the loss.
 
The Bulldogs (6-11, 1-0 NEC) logged three players in double-digit kills including Caroline Kennedy, who led all players with 12. Freshmen Emma McGovern and Sydney Gorski totaled 11 and 10 kills, respectively in the win.
 
Both teams registered their best hitting performances in the first set as the Bulldogs totaled 20 kills with a .227 attack percentage and the Knights finished with 10 kills on a .194 attack percentage.
 
Trailing 4-3 early on, junior Victoria Demmene served up four straight points for the Burgundy and Blue. Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Throckmorton kickstarted the spurt with a kill. After consecutive kills by Demmene and Spiridonakos, the Knights would eventually lead 16-13 before the Bulldogs mounted a comeback.
 
Tied at 20, back-to-back kills by Gorski turned the tables for the Bulldogs, who maintained a lead and ultimately closed the set on a tip by Kennedy. Spiridonakos and Mambu each recorded three kills for the Knights in the opening set.
 
After falling behind 4-1 in the second frame, the Knights recovered and established a slim 14-13 edge thanks to a pair of kills from Demmene and Mambu. Four different Bulldogs came through with a kill as the team scored six of the next seven points to establish a lead they would not relinquish.
 
In the third set, the Knights jumped on top 11-7 aided by a pair of Maksimovic kills. Trailing 20-18 later in the frame, Maksimovic set off a stretch of three straight tallies for the Burgundy and Blue and put her team on top 21-20 however, following a timeout, the Bulldogs would find their stride. Kennedy went to work and hammered three straight kills as the Bulldogs netted the final five points of the contest and completed the sweep.
 
The Knights continue NEC action tomorrow when they travel to New Britain, Connecticut to battle Central Connecticut State at 5:00 p.m.