PHILADELPHIA – The Felician College women's volleyball team came up on the short end of the longest deciding set in program history, falling, 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-15, 25-23, 23-21), to host University of the Sciences in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action Saturday morning at Bobby Morgan Arena. Sophomore libero Patrycja Giemza (Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland) tied a Felician record for a five-set match with 30 digs in the setback.

Later on Saturday, Felician (5-17, 5-12 CACC) succumbed to Southern Connecticut State University, 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 20-25, 25-10) in a neutral-site non-conference affair.

The loss to USciences dropped Felician one game back of fourth place in the CACC North Division, and the division's final playoff berth that goes with it, with two matches to play. Four teams in the division sit separated by one game from third to sixth place, competing for two spots.

The Golden Falcons played their third consecutive five-set affair, a first in the 10 years of their program. All three came in a stretch of four days. Felician defeated Concordia (N.Y.) College on Wednesday before failing to hold 2-0 leads against both Dominican (N.Y.) College on Friday and the host Devils on Saturday.

Giemza became only the third Golden Falcon to ever record at least 30 digs in a match. She tied Nicole Niedzwicki for the school five-set record. Current assistant coach Erica Moore accomplished the feat twice, and owns the overall Felician mark of 35, done in a three-set contest.

After Felician went ahead two sets to none, the Devils (14-17, 9-8) coasted in the third. They then hung on for a two-point Set 4 victory to force the deciding set, which is played to 15 points. Felician served for the match on five occasions, the last time at 20-19, before bowing one hour, 46 minutes after the first serve.

The Golden Falcons placed four hitters in double figures in kills, led by 24 kills and 14 digs from sophomore opposite Olivia Emerson (Sparks, Nev.). Kayla Gallagher (Bloomingburg, N.Y.) put down 17 kills, while sophomore setter Susie McKeever (North Fort Myers, Fla.) turned in 38 assists, 11 digs, and three aces.

USciences shined on defense, owning advantages of 100-76 in digs and 11-5 in blocking. Junior setter Kaileen Bevenour (Sicklerville, N.J.) ran an offense that hit .270, putting up 48 assists and 13 digs. Her favorite target was Amanda DiAngelo (Vestal, N.Y.), who amassed 20 kills, 14 digs and four aces. Sophomore Caitlyn Crawford (Covington, Ohio) hit .364 with 15 kills and six blocks.

Southern Connecticut caught a Golden Falcon team playing its third match in a 20-hour period. After dropping the third set, the Owls picked up a 25-10 win in the fourth to end Felician's afternoon.

Junior opposite Emma Reijonen (Joensuu, Finland) enjoyed her second double-double of the day with a team-high 13 kills and 11 digs for Felician. Emerson had 12 kills, and McKeever stuffed the boxscore with six kills, 27 assists, 12 digs and four aces.

SCSU used 12 players in the match. Lauren McVey (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) (16 digs) and Kelly Gunneson (Cheshire, Conn.) (.407, four blocks) topped a balanced Owl attack with 13 kills each.

USciences completed the day by earning a three-set victory over SCSU (15-10) in Saturday's final contest to capture the tri-match on its home floor.