Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HACKENSACK, N.J. – The FDU Knights closed out the FDU Invitational with two matches in Hackensack on Saturday. The Knights swept Lafayette in the first match of the day and then fell to Fordham in five to end the weekend. 

Fresh off sweeping Lafayette in yesterday's nightcap, FDU quickly seized control of the first set in today's match against the Leopards. A kill from Avery Bain followed by a Lafayette attack error stretched the Knights' lead to 15-9, matching their largest lead of the set. The Leopards cut the deficit to 21-19 but the FDU offense produced three kills and an ace to close out a 25-20 opening set victory.
 
Lafayette flipped the script in the initial stages of set number two as they jumped out to an 11-6 lead. Thanks to a few Leopard attack errors, the Knights won six of the next nine points and got back within two. FDU then exploded on a 5-0 that consisted of three kills and an ace from Samantha Wittholz. The Knights extended the run to a 8-1 stretch to take full command of the second set. They eventually took set number two 25-17.
 
The Knights went up 9-5 in the third set and never looked back. Lafayette made a late run and cut the lead to one, but FDU closed out the set on a 6-1 run to win the set 25-20 and complete the sweep.
 
Mackenzy Ruggiero led the Knights with 11 kills and Avery Bain followed closely behind with ten of her own. With 17 digs, Emily Van O'Linda anchored a Knights' defense that held the Leopards to a .088 attacking percentage.

In the second match of the day, FDU picked up right where they left off. This time they held Fordham to a .080 hitting percentage in the first set and won it 25-19. The FDU attack produced 12 kills and the Knights also earned two points off service aces. 

The Rams came out firing in the second set and took a 10-3 lead right off the jump. It was the offense leading the way for the visitors as the attack put together a .314 hitting percentage with 14 kills. The Knights on the other hand hit below .100 and committed six attack errors.  

Fordham's attack found their footing again in the third set hitting a blistering .382. Their defense did their part as well with four blocks and forcing FDU into eight attack errors. The Rams won the third 25-19 and took a 2-1 lead in the match. 

The Knights were able to slow down the Fordham attack in set number four and hold the Rams to a hitting percentage of .049. FDU capitalized and won a tight set 25-20. 

Fordham recovered in the fifth and won a shootout 15-12, smashing 12 kills in the process. 

Avery Bain led the Knights with 17 kills. 

WHAT'S NEXT

The Knights will now head into their final non-conference weekend of the year as they travel to the George Mason Invitational. FDU will take on Gardner-Webb and George Mason on Friday and then close out the weekend with a match against Morgan State on Saturday.