By Julian Bell
Sports Writer
(TEANECK) – The FDU Women’s volleyball team has experienced a season full of trials and tribulations. After struggling to secure a single victory earlier in the season, the Knights have and continued to showcase progressive improvement in their last few games. Upon securing their first victory of the season over St. Peters on Oct. 28, the Knights have a promising future if they play consistently.
On Saturday, Oct. 15, the Women’s volleyball team hosted their fifth home game of the season against the Sacred Heart University Pioneers. Though the Knights lost the match 1-3, the team exhibited great offensive techniques that allowed them to win the first set. Unlike many previous performances in which the Knights win the last two or three sets, the team showed initiative and endurance in their match against Scared Heart.
The first set of the match opened with a kill by SHU middle blocker Gianna Scioletti. However, FDU immediately responded with a kill by FDU junior opposite hitter Carly O’Sullivan. During the first set, the Knights showcased incredible offensive tactics that caused them to overwhelm SHU. In fact, the Knights put together a scoring drive of four unanswered points during the first set. However, this would be the last set that the Knights would win.
During the second set, SHU was completely dominant. Beginning from the start of the set, the Pioneers were able to score eight consecutive unanswered points against the now struggling Knights. However, the Knights responded by scoring four unanswered points against SHU, three of which were kills. SHU quickly found their rhythm again and won the second set over the Knights.
The third set of the match was played much more aggressively by both teams. Both the Knights and Pioneers established effective scoring drives. To open up the set, FDU freshman player Kirsten Traebert put together a series great serves which allowed the Knights to score two kills, one by junior middle hitter Taylor Wyckoff and another by freshman Anabel Reyes. Despite these and other great scoring drives, the Knights were unable to overcome the Pioneers and lost the third set 25-22.
The Knights, with one final opportunity to make their presence known in the match, were once again overwhelmed by SHU. The fourth and final set of the match ended with an SHU victory of 25-21 over the Knights. Additionally, the fourth set of the match was marked by technical difficulties surrounding the scoreboard. The Knights should have had one more point more than they did as the scoreboard reported the final score as 25-20.
Though the Knights lost this match, as a team they have made great strides in order to win some key games this season. Therefore, the women’s volleyball team have won the war in that they obliterated their formerly held losing streak. At this point, they need to win as many matches as possible in order to qualify for the NEC Tournament.
Interestingly, Men’s basketball Head Coach Greg Herenda was also in attendance at the Women’s volleyball match. Herenda believes that a strong fan base is a key factor in regards to a teams’s success. He greatly showed this by supporting the Knights and cheering them on. Like the Women’s volleyball team, Coach Herenda and the men’s basketball team have their eyes fixed on the NEC tournament.
