EASTON, MASS. (October 29, 2022)- The Stonehill College women's volleyball team hosted the second-best team in the Northeast Conference, Fairleigh Dickinson University but fell to the Knights, 3-0 (21-25, 21-25, 18-25) Saturday afternoon at Merkert Gymnasium.

Mia Berardino led the offense Saturday with nine kills, it is her fifth straight match with five or more kills. Right behind Berardino was Lauren McCloskey with seven kills and she has posted five or more kills in her last six matches. Molly Turner guided the offense with 17 assists on the afternoon and it is her third-straight match with 17 assists and fifth straight match with 15 or more helpers. Delaney Mihelich once again finished with double-digit assists (10) and it is her ninth straight contest with at least 10 assists. Defensively, Kristen DeLorenzo had 17 digs on the day and she has posted six straight matches with 10 or more digs.

In the opening set, Stonehill's offense was buzzing as the squad jumped out to an 8-3 lead highlighted by two Maier kills along with back-to-back service aces by Kaitlyn Watson. Despite the large lead, the Knights pushed back and found themselves down one with a 6-2 run (10-9). Stonehill gave themselves some breathing room after a kill from Berardino made it 13-10. However, Fairleigh Dickinson utilized a 4-0 run and grabbed their first lead (14-13) which led to a Stonehill timeout. Out of the timeout, the Purple and White pulled back ahead (16-15) thanks to a McCloskey kill and Mihelich service ace. However, the Knights again pulled away with a 6-3 run that made it 22-18 before the Skyhawks had to use another timeout. After the timeout, Stonehill pulled back within two (23-21) with a 3-1 rally led by Berardino and Watson kills but the Knights ultimately held on for the 25-21 set win.

Stonehill again found themselves off to a quick start as the Skyhawks went up 5-0 early highlighted by a Turner service ace and kills from Jentry Allen and Emma Graves. Despite the early lead, Fairleigh Dickinson evened things at eight thanks to an 8-3 rally. Stonehill took back the lead with a Mihelich kill but the Knights took the next two points to go up 10-9 which led to a Stonehill timeout. After the timeout, Fairleigh Dickinson gave themselves some breathing room with a three-point lead (15-12) but as the match went on, the Skyhawks cut it to one (17-16) with a 4-1 run spearheaded by a Watson kill and Mihleich service ace. Despite the momentum, the Knights pulled away with a 4-0 run which made it 21-16 but again, the Skyhawks would not go down quietly. The squad pulled within two (21-19) with a 3-0 push led by another McCloskey kill and a Maier service ace. However, Fairleigh Dickinson held off Stonehill once again by a score of 25-21.

In the final frame, Stonehill and Fairleigh Dickinson played close to each other as neither side saw a lead larger than two early on. After a Berardino kill, the Skyhawks went up 5-3, but from there each side went back and forth with each other. After the Knights went ahead 13-12, Stonehill grabbed their two-point lead back (15-13) thanks to two Fairleigh Dickinson errors and an Allen kill. Keeping with the theme of the set, the Knights pushed back and took a 17-15 lead and Stonehill called their first timeout of the set. After the timeout, Fairleigh Dickinson continued their offensive push as the Knights closed the final set on an 8-3 run (25-18).

Up Next

Stonehill continues its homestand when the Purple and White host Central Connecticut State University next Friday, November 4 at 5 p.m.

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