RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Felician University women's volleyball team fought from behind but ultimately fell, 3-1 (25-21, 25-13, 20-25, 25-22), to the visiting University of the Sciences on Saturday afternoon at Job Gymnasium.

Sophomore outside hitter Paulina Calero (El Centro, Calif./Southwest) topped Felician (0-13, 0-8) with 12 kills and four blocks. She also picked up seven digs. Freshman setter Charlotte Greek (Menifee, Calif./Murrieta Mesa) recorded five kills, 31 assists and six digs for the Golden Falcons.

Felician never led in either of the first two sets. The Golden Falcons fell behind, 10-4, in Set 1. They closed to within 18-17, but USciences captured the next three rallies, including two kills by Elizabeth Checca (Mullica Hill, N.J/Kingsway Regional), to open some room. Felician was within two points on two other occasions, the final time following a Lauren Mack (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) service ace at 23-21, but the Devils were able to close out the set.

USciences won nine consecutive points to open up a 17-6 Set 2 lead, forcing Felician to use both of its timeouts. The Devil edge grew to as large as 21-8. Checca came up with eight kills in the set.

Set 3 featured nine ties and eight lead changes. But with the Golden Falcons trailing 19-17, they ran off six consecutive points on the serve of Lanyse Castro (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth). After the teams traded side-outs, an ace from sophomore Amanda Coccia (Rahway, N.J./Roselle Catholic) gave the set to the hosts and extended the match.

UScienes took the lead for good in Set 4 when they won six consecutive rallies to turn a one-point deficit into a 16-12 advantage. Trailing 23-17, Felician made a late push, scoring four times on Castro's serve. After a Golden Falcon error made it 24-21, Felician saved one match point, then succumbed on a kill by Samantha Spurrier (Berlin, N.J./Our Lady of Mercy Academy).

Checca led all players with 17 kills and added 11 digs and four aces. Devil junior Simran Sangu (Avenel, N.J./Colonia) put down 10 kills, and setter Meghan Neff (Wilmington, Del./Charter School of Wilmington) totaled 40 assists, 15 digs and three aces. USciences ran up a 13-6 edge in aces for the day.

Mack accumulated seven kills, 11 digs and three aces for the Golden Falcons. Castro matched a season high with five kills and set another with eight digs.

The Golden Falcons step out of conference play when they host the University of Bridgeport on Tuesday at 7 p.m.