MADISON, N.J. -- The FDU-Florham volleyball concluded their Freedom Conference schedule with a hard-fought five-set loss to DeSales University 25-22, 16-25, 18-25, 26-24, 8-15 on Wednesday night at Ferguson Recreation Center.

With the loss, the Devils (16-18, 3-4 Freedom) are eliminated from the postseason, while the Bulldogs (21-10, 6-1 Freedom) secured the number two seed in the upcoming Freedom Conference Tournament.

Freshman outside hitter Melissa Gaffney (League City, Texas) totaled a team-high 19 kills in the loss, while first-year setter Codi Inloes-Williams (Palmer Lake, Colo.) dished out 45 assists on the night. 

The Bulldogs were led by Sienna Heist's match-best 21 put aways as four DeSales players accrued double-digit kills in the contest. Sophomore setter Lisa Wallitsch handed out 52 assists in the five-set victory for DeSales.

The evening began with promise for the home team as the Devils earned a first-set victory 25-22. After falling behind 4-0, the Devils rallied and freshman Avery Dravis-Stark (Midland Park, N.J.) served them back into the set with five-straight points. Sophomore middle hitter DeAnna D'Amico (Totowa, N.J.) closed out the set by hammering a one-ball from Inloes-Williams.

DeSales settled in and claimed the second and third sets in comfortable fashion, however, the Devils refused to lay down. In the fourth set, the two teams battled and DeSales claimed a 17-12 lead midway through the frame. Led by Gaffney and senior right-side hitter Maggie Kaszuba (Manahawkin, N.J.) the Devils responded and pulled even at 21-21. With the game knotted at 24-24, kills by Natalie Knudsen (Chester, N.J.) and D'Amico closed out the win for FDU-Florham and forced a decisive fifth set.

Unfortunately, the Devils came up short in the fifth set as DeSales parlayed a 4-0 lead into the 15-8 victory. In addition to her 19 kills, Gaffney added 15 digs to earn her 11th double-double of the season. Defensively, Devils libero Rachel Catena (Flemington, N.J.) totaled 26 digs and Alex Barnett (Winchester, Va.) had four block assists.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham wraps up the 2014 season this Saturday, November 1st when they take on Rutgers-Camden at 11 a.m.