EASTON, Mass.- The FDU Knights (7-13, 4-1 NEC) fell in three sets to the Stonehill Skyhawks (6-15, 3-2 NEC) in a three set road match. The Knights finished with 37 kills and a .188 hitting percentage, while Stonehill totaled 57 kills and hit .317.
The Knights started the opening set with an 8-3 lead behind early offense from Angela Marchetto and Alessia Zampieri plus a Madeline Joyce ace. Stonehill pulled the set back even, but FDU continued to answer as the frame moved past 25 points. Late kills from Marchetto and Nina Jasiecka helped the Knights stay level and take brief one-point leads at 27-26 and 29-28 before Stonehill closed with consecutive points to take the set 33-31.
Stonehill jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the second set before FDU began to cut away at the deficit.The first burst of kills came from Katarina Trutina and Ava Deguzman to make the score 13-8.
The Knights' biggest push came shortly after, with Stonehill extending their lead to 18-11. FDU won nine of the next 10 rallies to move in front 20-19 on a Marchetto kill. Zampieri added two kills of her own, while teaming up with Trutina on a block during that stretch. Mila Samardzija added a service ace to cap off the scoring for FDU. The Skyhawks answered late and took the set 25-23.
Trailing 6-3 early, the Knights saw a kill from Agnes Shakirova capped off a three-point-run to tie the score at 6-6. FDU was able to stay within reach, with a Kayla Green service ace trimming the deficit to 12-8.
Stonehill remained in front of the visiting Knights, and built a 16-10 advantage. Trutina served two aces to bookend a Samardzija kill as FDU cut the margin to 16-14. Stonehill answered with the next two points and kept the Knights from getting closer than two points again. DeGuzman added a late kill before Stonehill closed out the set 25-20.
Tomorrow, the Knights face Stonehill once again at 4:30 p.m. The second match will be livestreamed on NEC Front Row.
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