MADISON, NJ – The Wilkes University women's volleyball team found itself in a tight Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) battle at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Wednesday night eventually falling 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 21-25, 23-25).

Wilkes dropped to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in the MAC Freedom. FDU-Florham improved to 5-5 overall and 1-3 in the league.

The match was highlighted by three players with a double-double for the Colonels. First year Alexis Reedy (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra Area) led the team with 11 kills and added 16 digs for her second double-double of the season. Fellow first years Alexa Cassel (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) with 15 assists and 16 digs and Jaclyn Rawa (West Chester, PA/Henderson) with 14 assists and 12 digs added their fifth and fourth double-doubles this season.

Wilkes opened the first set with a 4-0 lead before the Devils gained their first lead at 6-5. The two teams battled tightly to a 21-21 stalemate before FDU-Florham scored four of the next five points to go ahead 1-0 in the match.

The Colonels went on a six-point run punctuated by two Laura Booths (Lake Ariel, PA/Western Wayne) service aces to take an early 6-2 lead in the second set. A kill by Allison Murie (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) stretched the lead to 9-3 and Wilkes continued its strong play as an ace by Cassel pushed the lead to 16-7. The Devils would never cut the advantage below six points and the Colonels evened the match at 1-1 with the 25-15 victory. Wilkes hit .320 during the set compared to .094 for FDU-Florham.

Wilkes gained a 5-0 lead in the third set following points on triple-block by Hope Ousey (Exton, PA/Henderson), Nicole Fitzpatrick (Newhampton, NY/Minisink Valley) and Jessica Salus (Shavertown, PA/Lake Lehman) and another block play by  Rawa and Reedy. The Devils then went on a six-point run to gain the lead eventually stretching the advantage to four points at 13-9. Wilkes though scored four in a row to tie the score including two kills by Reedy. The Colonels then briefly gained the lead 17-16 following a kill by Reedy and two by Ousey. The set remained very tight until the Devils found the important points near the end to edge ahead 2-1 in the match.

The Devils started the fourth set strong with six points before a Colonels timeout settled things. Salus followed with a kill and Kelsey Carroll (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) and Murie combined for a block on the next two points. FDU-Florham still held a 12-7 edge before three points by the Colonels forced the home side into a timeout. The run did not stop there though as Wilkes strung together eight points in a row to take a 15-12 lead. Fitzpatrick had two service aces and a kill by Salus culminated the rally. A 4-1 response by the Devils tied the score at 16. A Reedy kill put the Colonels ahead 21-19 but FDU-Florham closed on a 6-2 run to take the fourth set 25-23 and the match 3-1.

Reedy hit .242 on the night and tied her career high with 16 digs. Salus hit a strong .212 and established a new high of eight kills. Ali Yordy (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield Area) led Wilkes with 18 digs and Fitzpatrick finished with career highs with six digs and four aces. Ousey and Fitzpatrick each had three blocks.

Adrienne DeFuria led FDU-Florham with 14 kills. Erin Ahart had 18 digs and Charlotte Fruscione had five aces.

Wilkes returns home to the Marts Center to face Keystone College tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. in non-conference action.