RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Felician College women's volleyball team hosted a tri-match on Saturday afternoon at Job Gymnasium. After losing a four-set Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference decision to Georgian Court University, the Golden Falcons were defeated, 3-0, in non-conference action by Southern Connecticut State University.

Felician (4-19, 2-0 CACC) began the day with a 3-1 (25-18, 25-22, 18-25, 25-16) setback to Georgian Court. Senior setter Susie McKeever (North Fort Myers, Fla./North Fort Myers) narrowly missed her second career triple-double, posting 10 kills, 34 assists and eight digs.

The Golden Falcons were held to a combined .049 attack percentage in dropping the first two sets. But they were successful in extending the match, getting out to a 17-11 third-set lead. GCU came back to within 17-16, but two kills by Paulina Calero (El Centro, Calif./Southwest) and another by McKeever in a four-point run made it 21-16 and allowed the hosts to pull away.

The Lions avoided a deciding set, receiving three consecutive service aces from Victoria Harris (Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman) to break a 4-4 tie. GCU would move ahead, 18-9 and 23-11 en route to wrapping up the match.

Calero posted 16 kills, a season-high 19 digs and three aces for the Golden Falcons. Amanda Coccia (Rahway, N.J./Roselle Catholic) put down a season-best eight kills, and Niccole Soriano (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) led the defense with 22 kills to go along with four assists and three aces.

GCU freshman Peggy Rosario (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico/Santo Tomas) tied Calero for match-high honors with 16 kills, hitting .265. Junior Kelsie Blue (Waretown, N.J./Southern Regional) recorded six kills and 11 blocks for the Lions (13-11, 7-4).

Later on Saturday evening, the Golden Falcons were unable to overcome Southern Connecticut, falling 25-21, 25-19, 25-14. The Owls (6-18) posted a .358 attack percentage for the match, and received 36 assists and 13 digs from sophomore setter Alexandra Nimz (Littleton, Colo./Thunderridge).

SCSU held on after Felician sliced a 15-9 first-set deficit to 23-21, with a late kill by Faith Ford (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) keying the victory. In Set 2, the Owls led, 17-15, before posting four consecutive points to gain separation. Southern opened a 20-8 Set 3 lead on its way to earning the match victory.

Owl senior Kelly Gunneson (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) led all players with 14 kills. Sophomore Alexandria Jurgens (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall) hit .524 and amassed 11 kills, eight digs, five blocks and four assists for SCSU. Calero had 10 kills and eight digs and Shannon Hood (East Orange, N.J./St. Dominic Academy) added seven kills for Felician.

In the day's middle match, Georgian Court took a 3-2 (26-24, 25-18, 23-25, 23-25, 15-10) non-conference victory over Southern Connecticut State.