SYRACUSE, N.Y.- FDU women's volleyball (2-11) fell in three sets to Buffalo (7-3). The Knights out-blocked their opponents, logging eight combined blocks. Nina Jasiecka and Angela Marchetto led the Knights in total blocks, logging four clocking assists each.
FDU fought out to a 6-3 lead, with all three kills coming by way of Kiah Lopez. Buffalo followed up the effort by going on a six-point-run to take a 9-6 edge.
Buffalo continued to hold onto their advantage, leading 22-13 late in the set. The Knights found five points, including an ace from Mila Samardzija after she helped Angela Marchetto deal a blocking attempt. The Knights could not recapture the lead, falling 25-18.
The second set began with a scoring spree for FDU, with Marchetto, Lopez, and Samardzija. Still trailing 6-5, the Knights saw a kill from Alessia Zampieri and an ace from Samardzija give them a 7-6 lead.
Buffalo powered again shortly after, taking an 8-7 lead. From there the Knights went to work, scoring six of the next seven points. Two kills from Katarina Trutina, as well as two kills and two blocking assists from Marchetto played a role in helping FDU build a 13-9 lead.
FDU held onto their lead, taking a 20-19 lead into the late stages of the set, before giving up a four-point-run to give Buffalo a 23-20 lead. The Bulls finished the set after finding two points to win 25-22.
The Knights evened the score in the final set early at 4-4. A double block from Zampieri and Lopez alongside a kill from Trutina gave the Knights early momentum.
FDU continued to hold a slim lead, taking a 9-8 advantage before Buffalo embarked on a five-point-run to lead 13-9. FDU was not done, using Buffalo's miscues against them to move back in front, 18-16.
In the final stages of the set, the Knights made a last push with a kill from Lopez and an ace from Trutina to tie the affair at 22-22. The Bulls held on to win the set 25-22.
The Knights make their home debut on Sep 23. FDU plays host to Temple at 6 p.m. on NEC Front Row
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