HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU women's volleyball rounded out their non-conference play earlier today, with a midweek matchup against NJIT. Putting their last tune up match to good use, the Knights gave a dominant four set performance to beat the Highlanders 3-1.
Both teams were slow to find their footing in set one, with each team committing an attacking error in the first two points. Despite a handful of kills, the Knights found themselves trailing for the beginning half of the first set. Two kills by junior
MacKenzy Ruggiero sparked a lead that would hold for FDU to win set one 25-21.
Proving they were not going down without a fight, NJIT jumped to an early 10-5 lead in set two. A struggling Knights offense could not find a consistent way to score, racking up eight attack errors and only 12 kills on 39 attempts. The Highlanders found their rhythm and ran with it, tallying 14 kills, four blocks and two aces to win the set 25-19.
Set three saw a revived FDU squad who took a commanding 20-9 lead that proved to be too much for NJIT. Although it was not the strongest offensive performance of the night for the Burgundy and Blue, a scrappy defense shined as the Highlanders were plagued by unforced errors. With the security of the early lead, FDU cruised to a 25-21 set three victory.
Despite holding a lead for the entirety of the set, it was back and forth as neither team could get a run of more than four. Both squads totaled only 11 kills on the match, but FDU tallied five errors where NJIT tallied seven. With the help of a steady offense and an impressive five service aces, the Knights took a 25-21 set and match victory.
The Burgundy and Blue were led by graduate student
Eleonora Tosi and Ruggiero who both tallied 12 kills on the night. Senior
Emily Van O'Linda had an impressive performance as well, racking up five aces and 12 digs in the four sets.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Knights will open NEC play on Friday October 4, as they head to Syracuse, N.Y. to take on Le Moyne. First serve is set for 6 pm and will be streamed on NEC Front Row.
