HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU women's volleyball rounded out their second weekend of conference play with a five-set win over Mercyhurst earlier today. The victory marked a program-best 10 match win streak and kept the Knights undefeated in NEC play.
Set one proved to be an offensive struggle for the Knights, who tallied six errors on just 11 kills. Despite a strong performance from sophomore
Avery Bain, who racked up six kills on the set alone, the Burgundy and Blue were unable to find any kind of rhythm. Two kills by Mercyhurst outside Andrea Zaric secured a set one victory for the Lakers with a 25-20 score.
Sets two and three saw a steadier FDU squad, who got in an offensive zone that proved to be too much for the Lakers. In set two, the Knights tallied 12 kills with no errors for an impressive hitting clip of .455. Keeping that energy through the third, the Burgundy and Blue logged 12 kills and only four errors. With a consistent offense and scrappy defense, FDU was able to take the sets 25-20 and 25-13.
An energetic Lakers team proved they were not going down easily, as they challenged the Knights through the entire fourth set. It was back and forth, as Mercyhurst held a lead FDU could not catch up with. With four aces and seven blocks, the Lakers were able to force a fifth set with a 25-17 victory.
Set five saw the Knights down early, as Mercyhurst jumped to an early 11-6 lead. Three kills by Bain gave the Burgundy and Blue some much need energy, to tie the match at 13-13. A timely kill from junior
MacKenzy Ruggiero followed by an ace by Graduate Student
Eleonora Tosi secured the set and match victory at 15-13.
The Burgundy and Blue were led by Bain, who tallied 17 kills on the night. Her impressive offensive performance was coupled with 12 digs, to secure her first career double-double. She was followed by Ruggiero who logged 16 kills and Nott who totaled 13. Defensively, FDU was led by senior
Emily Van O'Linda who tallied 18 digs on the match.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Knights return to action on the road, traveling to New Britian, Conn. to face CCSU on October 18. First serve is set for 6 pm in Detrick Gymnasium and will be streamed on NEC Front Row.
