HACKENSACK, N.J.- The FDU Knights (7-12, 4-0 NEC) picked up their fifth win of the season in a three set victory over the Saint Peter's Peacocks (5-15, 4-3 Metro). The Knights held Saint Peter's to a -.051 hitting percentage and finished with 14.5 total blocks in the sweep. The match was also FDU's sixth sweep of the season, and seventh contest with 10 combined blocks or more. Angela Marchetto led the way for the Knights, collecting seven kills and seven blocks.
The Knights opened the first set with three straight points, getting two block-assisted Saint Peter's attack errors involving Angela Marchetto, Mila Samardzija and Nina Jasiecka before Isabella Scarfone served an ace for a 3-0 lead.
Saint Peter's stayed within 7-5, but the Knights answered with four straight points, including a Scarfone kill from Madeline Joyce and a block by Alessia Zampieri and Samardzija, to move ahead 11-5.
After Saint Peter's cut it to 16-9, the Knights put together another four-point push behind Marchetto kill, Joyce service ace and two Saint Peter's attack errors to stretch the lead to 20-9. The visitors made a late three-point run to cut their deficit to 22-14, but the Knights closed the set with the final three points, finishing it on a Kayla Green service ace for a 25-14 win.
In the second set, the Knights moved in front 2-0 on a Marchetto kill from Scarfone and a Peacocks' attack error, but Saint Peter's answered to build a 10-7 lead. The Knights worked back into the set with a service ace, a Zampieri kill, a Saint Peter's attack error and Marchetto kill from Scarfone that put the Knights ahead 12-11. After Saint Peter's once again tied the set at 13-13, the Knights scored four straight points and later used kills from Zampieri, Samardzija and Scarfone to stretch the margin to 23-17.
Saint Peter's pulled within 23-19, before the Knights closed the set with a kill and a block by Jasiecka and Marchetto for a 25-19 win.
Saint Peter's scored the first five points and later led 7-1, but the Knights took the next five points, including kills by Samardzija and Jasiecka and back-to-back service aces from Joyce, to cut the margin to 7-6.
Saint Peter's rebuilt an 11-7 lead before the Knights evened the score at 11-11. Neither team could establish an advantage, as the set was tied again at 14-14 and 15-15 before Saint Peter's moved ahead 18-15.
The Knights answered with five straight points, including a Marchetto kill starting the stretch. Joyce's ace put the Knights in front 19-18 and a block by Zampieri and Jasiecka making it 20-18. After Saint Peter's got within 20-19, the Knights won the next four rallies to move ahead 24-19, and after one Saint Peter's point, the Knights finished the set at 25-20 on a kill assisted by Scarfone.
This weekend, the Knights travel to face Stonehill on Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. The match will stream on NEC Front Row.
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