BRYN ATHYN, Pa (September 14, 2019) – The FDU volleyball team topped Bryn Athyn College in four sets before falling to Ursinus College in three Saturday afternoon.

The Devils are now 4-4 on the season. 

FDU-Florham 3, Bryn Athyn 1 (25-17, 25-27, 25-20, 25-12)

After a highly contested beginning of the set, the Devils started to take control as sophomore Kacie Ros assisted on back-to-back plays to extend the FDU lead. Junior Jessica Garreffa executed off the Ros pass for her first kill on the game, and on the next play, Ros found junior Liz Moise, to put the Devils in the driver's seat at 12-7. The Ros-Garreffa connection was a theme for the remainder of the set, as the pair hooked up for two more kills. Up 22-17, and nearing the set victory, the Devils took advantage of errors by Bryn Athyn and secured the 25-17 set win.

The Lions were committed to even up the match score and did so. Trailing 20-17, the Devils began to make noise as freshman Sophia Miskulin recorded two-straight aces to lessen the margin. Following an error, the Devils rallied back to tie the game at 20-20. Now trailing by a point, Moise evened up the score with a kill. After a Lions score, FDU took advantage of a pair of errors to take the late lead, 23-22. Now tie 23-23, senior Nathalia Padron executed off a pass from Ros to put the Devils back up, 24-23. Two straight Lions scores put them a point away from taking the set. With their backs against the wall, the Devils would not go away quietly as Padron used a set from Ros to record another kill, and even up the score. The Devils comeback effort would fall just short as the Lions held on to take the set, 27-25.

In the third set, the Devils were aimed to take back control of the match. Sitting in front at 13-9, Ros found Padron for back-to-back kills, to put FDU up 15-9. Ros remained an active force for the Devils, as she contributed an assist to Miskulin, and three to Garreffa to lead FDU to the 20-18 advantage. Nearing the set win, FDU used a block by Moise, two kills by Padron, and a kill by Miskulin to secure the 25-20 win and the 2-1 match lead.

Going into the 4th set with a chance to close out the game, FDU surged out to a 16-11 lead. Looming in on the win, the Devils used a 5-0 run to extend the lead. Along with a pair of Lions errors, FDU used two kills from Padron, and a kill from Garreffa to reach their largest lead of the half, 21-11. After a Lions point, Miskulin made her presence known once again as she was the benefactor of a Ros assist. Now sitting at three points away from clinching the match win, a Lions error plus two kills from Padron, locked the 25-12 set victory, and the 3-1 match victory.  

Ursinus 3, FDU-Florham 0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-13)

The Devils forced Ursinus into a timeout after embarking on a 4-0 spurt to pull the opening frame level at 10 all. The Bears pulled in front, but a Miskulin kill trimmed the gap to two at 16-14. FDU would not get any closer, as Ursinus tallied nine of the final 11 points to claim the opening stanza. With the second frame tied at four, Ursinus used a 7-0 run to gain control of the set. The difference in the middle set was attacking, as the Bears committed just two errors as the Devils had seven of their own.

Ursinus built a commanding 11-3 lead in the final period, capping off the run with a service ace. Padron ended the rally with a kill, but the Devils were unable to any closer than six the rest of the way. Garreffa pinned down a Ros set to make the score 15-9, but the Bears were able to stay in the driver's seat and build a 10-point lead. Miskulin powered home consecutive kills to make the score 22-13, but Ursinus netted the final three markers to complete the win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Padron had 23 kills over the two matches, including a match-high 19 against Bryn Athyn. The senior also chipped in 14 digs in the opening match.
• Miskulin served up a season-high three aces against the Lions also led the team with seven kills against Ursinus.
• Junior Rebecca Morse and Garreffa each posted over 30 digs over the two matches. Morse went for 39 while Garreffa had 32.

UP NEXT
The Devils are back in action Wednesday when they open Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play against King's College. First, serve inside the Ferguson Recreation Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.