HACKENSACK, N.J. -  The Lafayette volleyball team fell to FDU on Saturday in three sets (25-20, 25-17, 25-20) on the second day of the Knight's Invitational.

The Knights jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, after kills by Maria Cisneros, Avery Bain and a string of attack errors by Lafayette. For every point the Leopards claimed FDU found a way to score back-to-back points, taking a 17-11 lead later in the set. Kills by outside hitters Emma Patmon and Paige Chmura brought the Maroon and White within two points (22-20) of tying the contest, but Bain and Eleonora Tosi grabbed the Knight's a first set win, 25-20.

The beginning of the second set featured kills by four different Leopards, giving Lafayette a six-point lead (10-4). FDU proceeded to answer with a 8-2 scoring spurt, now trailing by just one point (12-11) in the middle of the second period. MacKenzy Ruggiero helped FDU grab the lead and Jaden Reasor extended the Knight's lead (20-15) from the service line as the set wore on. After two sets, the Knights led 2-0.

Ruggiero continued her momentum in the third set, racking up five kills, hitting .214. The final set was back-and-forth in the early going, but a three-point spurt from FDU gave it a 17-12 lead through a kill by Tosi. A kill by Patmon and a grouping of FDU attack errors saw Lafayette tie the game at 19 apiece. Ruggiero finished the set with two kills in crunch time and Hannah Schmidt's services made life difficult for the Leopards, dropping the third set 25-20.

The Leopards open their Patriot League and home slate by inviting Colgate and Holy Cross to town on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (4 p.m.).
 

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