ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's volleyball team fell in a battle to the University of Scranton 3-1 on Wednesday evening.
 
Regan Hickey led the Knights with 12 kills and 15 digs. Bre Hickey tallied 11 digs and nine kills. Ariana Pena added eight kills. Tori Burgess notched 16 digs. Dani Smith handed out 23 assists and four service aces. Catie Esslinger dished out 15 assists and three service aces.
 
The teams went back and forth during the first set. Scranton held a late 22-20 advantage when Neumann scored the next three points, including kills from R. Hickey and Pena. After the Royals scored the next two points, the Knights tied the set at 24 on a block from Maria Brown and Lauren Garvey. A kill and a service ace gave Scranton a 26-24 first set win.
 
Tied at 18 in set two, and behind serving by Esslinger, the Knights scored eight straight points. A service ace by Esslinger put Neumann at set point, 24-18. The Royals scored two points before the Knights could put away the second set win, 25-20.
 
Scranton jumped out to a 13-6 lead in the third set. Neumann tallied the next five points to pull within two, 13-11. The Knights would get to within a couple points before the Royals would add onto their lead again and before Neumann could pull even, Scranton took the set 25-22.
 
The fourth set was back and forth as well. But with the teams knotted at 19, the Royals went onto score the final six points to take set four 25-19 and the match 3-1.
 
Neumann (5-8) will head to Widener on Saturday for a tri-match with Clarks Summit. The Knights will face the Pride at 10:00 AM followed by the Defenders at 12:00 PM.