ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University volleyball team opened Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) play at Cabrini University on Thursday evening. The Knights fell 3-1 in a tight four-set match.
 
Melanie Malseed led the Knights with nine kills. Hayley Glah added eight kills. Rachel Cray handed out 27 assists and four service aces. Nikki Collevechio anchored the defense and led five Knights in double-digits with 20 kills. Bianca Harbold tallied 18, Cray 16, Glah 14 and Ali Frey added 11. Rachael Hoffman had two block solos and eight block assists.
 
Neumann started the match out strong, coming away with a 25-20 win in the first set. Two service aces by Cray midway through the set put the Knights up 18-11. The Cavaliers climbed back to within two points, 19-17. A service ace by Cabrini sealed the first set win for the Knights.
 
In the second set, the Cavaliers jumped out to an 11-6 lead. The Knights went on to score eight of the next nine points to take a 14-12 advantage. Cabrini answered with the next five points for a 17-14 score. After the teams traded some points, the Cavaliers scored six of the next seven points to take a 24-18 lead. The Knights were able to score two straight points, including a service ace by Malseed, but the Cavaliers answered with a kill, 25-20, to even the match at one.
 
The second set went back and forth, with neither team taking control. The teams were tied at 18 late in the set when the Cavaliers built a four point lead, 23-19. Two Kills by Cabrini after Neumann scored its 20^th point gave the Cavaliers a 2-1 lead.
 
In the fourth set, Cabrini took a 15-7 lead. The Cavaliers would keep the Knights at arm's length to come away with the 25-19 set win and 3-1 match win.
 
Neumann (1-6, 0-1 CSAC) will host its annual Knights Invitational this weekend. The Knights will face Swarthmore, Widener, Baruch and Moravian over the two-day tournament.