ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University women's volleyball team fought to the end but fell to Eastern University 3-0 on Tuesday evening in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth contest. Set scores were 25-18, 28-26 and 26-24.
Soleil-La'Jour Staggs led the Knights with 10 kills and two block solos.
Bri Gautier added nine kills, just one error and a .400 hitting percentage.
Melissa Eddy tallied eight digs and
Raiza Batario added seven.
Emma Kovacs handed out 21 assists while
Amiya Carter dished out 12.
In set one, Eastern took a 4-3 edge and built an 8-3 advantage. Neumann battled back and tied the set at 11. The Eagles tallied six of the next eight points to take back the lead, 17-13. With Eastern leading 21-18, the Eagles scored the final four points to take set one 25-18.
The Eagles scored the first four points of set two and held an early 10-4 lead. With Eastern leading 17-9, the Knights started to make their move. A service ace by Cater brought Neumann to within two, 20-18. The Eagles got to set point, 24-20, when the Knights scored five straight points, including two service aces by
Brielle Nemenzo. After the teams traded points, Eastern was able to secure three straight points to take set two 28-26.
The teams went back and forth in set three. With the Eagles leading 14-12, the Knights scored seven of the next eight points to take a 19-15 advantage. Eastern chipped its way into the deficit and tied the set at 23. A kill by Solomon gave Neumann the 24-23 edge, but the Eagles responded with the next three points to take set three 26-24 and the match 3-0.
Neumann (7-11, 2-3 MAC Commonwealth) remains at home and will host Rutgers-Camden and Marywood in a non-conference tri-match on Saturday. Action gets underway at 10:00 AM.
