EASTON, Mass.- FDU (8-13, 5-1 NEC) defeated Stonehill (6-16, 3-3 NEC) in four sets on the road. The Knights hit .308 with 54 kills, while also dealing 9 blocks. Ava Deguzman logged her second double-double of the season, which consisted of a season best 13 kills and 14.5 total points.
The Knights answered Stonehill's opening point with an immediate first-set push, winning eight of the next nine rallies to move ahead 9-2. The early run included an Ava Deguzman kill and service ace, kills from Mila Samardzija and Kiah Lopez, and a block by Alessia Zampieri and Lopez.
After Stonehill brought the score to 11-6, the Knights put together four straight points starting with a Kayla Green serve. The run included a double block from Nina Jasiecka and Angela Marchetto, a Deguzman kill, and an Jasiecka kill. The scoring spree extended FDU's lead 15-6.
The Knights continued to add points from multiple spots, with Marchetto, Samardzija and Jasiecka recording kills as the lead reached 24-13. Stonehill scored twice at set point, but the Knights closed the first set with a Lopez kill which featured an Isabella Scarfone assist for a 25-15 win.
The Knights opened the second set with kills from Marchetto and Samardzija to move ahead 7-4 before Stonehill answered to go in front. Madeline Joyce's service ace brought the Knights level at 12-12, and Zampieri, Samardzija, Deguzman and Marchetto continued to supply points as the Knights stayed within reach late.
After Stonehill reached 24-23, the Knights answered with consecutive points to move ahead 25-24, then responded again after Stonehill led 28-27. The Knights finished the second set by taking the final three points, getting a Samardzija kill, a Marchetto block on a Stonehill attack error and an Ava DeGuzman kill from Marginean to close a 30-28 win.
The Knights fell behind 4-0 in the third set before Ava Deguzman and Lopez supplied kills during a four-point response that tied the set at 4-4. After Stonehill moved ahead 8-5, the Knights answered again, using a Lopez kill, two Stonehill errors and a block by Samardzija and Zampieri to go in front 9-8 before later taking a 10-9 lead.
Stonehill pushed back ahead 15-12 and stayed in front late, but the Knights kept within range behind kills from Zampieri, DeGuzman and Marchetto, then drew even at 23-23 on Nora Marginean's service ace and a Stonehill attack error. Stonehill scored the final two points to take the set, 25-23.
Samardzija supplied four kills and teamed up with Zampieri on a block as the Knights built a 10-6 advantage in the fourth set. Stonehill answered by moving in front 13-12, past the visiting Knights. FDU continued to respond, with Marchetto and Samardzija scoring in the middle of a back-and-forth stretch.
Deguzman delivered consecutive kills for the Knights to tie the set at 19-19 and put the Knights ahead 20-19, and Marchetto later added a kill before combining with Samardzija on the block that made it 24-21. After Stonehill took the next two points to cut the margin to 24-23, the Knights converted set point on a kill from Lopez which featured a Scarfone assist to secure the
The Knights return home to host Binghamton on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. The final non-conference match of the season for FDU will stream on NEC Front Row.
Connect with the Knights on Instagram and X @FDUKnightsWVB
