FROSTBURG, Md. (November 12, 2017) - The FDU volleyball team topped Brandeis in four sets before falling to Westminster College in straight sets in the ECAC Championship match Sunday.

The Devils end the season with a 27-9 mark, and went 9-1 inside the friendly confines of the Ferguson Recreation Center. Seniors Courtney Conte, Rachel Catena, Amelia Vetto and Melissa Gaffney played in their final collegiate contests today.

FDU 3, Brandeis 1 (26-24, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22)
The Devils fell behind 7-3 early in the first set, and trailed 16-13 before a timeout. The timeout righted the ship, as junior Marissa Lehnert scored six straight points to FDU in front and made Brandeis call a timeout. The Judges scored nine of the next 12 to even things at 22, and the teams traded the next four markers. A Judge attack error brought up set point, and Lehnert pounded home the kill to put the Devils up one.

After dropping the second stanza, the Devils took control of the third set after a mid-frame 9-2 spurt to pull in front 12-5. Catena used four straight unforced errors to reel off five straight tallies, but the Judges chipped away, getting to within 22-17 on a solo block. Once again, FDU called timeout and junior Lauren Harris slammed home a kill and served ace to bring up set point. Brandeis staved off two rallies before Gaffney ended the set with a kill from Conte.

Brandeis went ahead 6-2 in the deciding set, but the Devils 8-1 run pushed edge towards the Devils and gave them the lead. The Judges closed within one point multiple times during the fourth period, but the Devils fought hard to not let them tie. With FDU up 23-22, Harris notched a kill and an unforced error pushed FDU through to the finals.

Despite being out-hit, the Devils made up the difference in an 8-3 edge in aces. Harris, Gaffney and Conte all had double-doubles, with Conte setting the tone with 43 assists and 22 digs. Catena chipped in 24 digs, while Gaffney had 20 digs and 11 kills.

Westminster 3, FDU 0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-13)
After the Devils tied the first set at seven, Westminster rolled off nine straight points to go up 16-7. The Devils closed to within four at 23-19 thanks to a Harris kill, but back-to-back FDU attack errors ended the set in favor of the Titans 25-19.

A Titan attack error put FDU up 18-17, but the Devils were unable to put away the Titans. After a Gaffney kill evened things up at 19, Westminster rolled off the final straight points to take a commanding 2-0 set lead. The Devils were unable to battle back from an 11-5 deficit in the third set. The Titans tallied the final three points of the match which the clinched the championship for the team from Pennsylvania.

Harris led the way with 11 kills, while Gaffney had seven kills and 15 digs.

Harris and Gaffney were named to ECAC All-Tournament Team.