STORRS, Conn.- The FDU Knights (2-8) fell in three sets to UConn (5-4) in their final matchup at the East Coast Challenge. The best performance from FDU came in the third set, seeing a sizable lead before UConn overtook the Knights late.
The set began with point-for-point scoring by each side.Kiah Lopez dealt the first kill for the Knights. The Huskies eventually found an 8-5 lead, before a pair of kills from Ava Deguzman narrowed the gap to just one, 8-7.
The Huskies remained in front of the Knights on the scoreboard, with FDU benefiting from several UConn errors to stay within three, 16-13. From there, three more attacking errors and a kill from Deguzman helped the Knights tie the contest at 17 each way. UConn went on a decisive five-point-run to recapture the lead 22-17. The Huskies held on to take set one, 25-19.
The Knights recorded the first two points, with the second one being a kill from Angela Marchetto. Another kill from Mila Samardzija gave the Knights a 4-2 lead. A four-point-run by the Huskies put them ahead 6-4.
Kayla Green dealt the first ace of the afternoon for FDU to pull the Knights within three, 13-10. UConn used several two-point-bursts to slow down the Knights' momentum as the Huskies took the second set 25-117.
Deguzman got the final set underway, with her kill helping the Knights power out to a 5-4 lead. UConn took the next three to lead 7-5. FDU went to work, going on a six-point-run and taking seven of the next eight points. Nina Jasiecka and Deguzman dealt kills, with Marchetto getting involved in a blocking assist and a kill to put the Knights ahead 12-8.
Already leading 14-10, two new Knights helped extend the lead. Szonja Csabai tapped down a kill, which was followed up by a Katarina Trutina service ace. FDU held onto their lead, advancing to 19-15 over the hosting squad. A nine-point-run from the Huskies closed the book on the match, as they went ahead 24-19 before finding the final point to win the match in three sets.
Mila Samardzija: 9 kills, 9 digs,, hit .400
Ava Deguzman: 7 kills, 4 digs, 1 blocking assist
Angela Marchetto: 2 kills, 3 blocking assists
The Knights travel back to Connecticut on Sep. 15, taking on Sacred Heart. The match will be streamed on ESPN+
