Box Score LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Despite a career-high 28 digs from sophomore libero Amanda Coccia (Rahway, N.J.), the Felician University women's volleyball team lost, 3-0 (28-26, 25-22, 25-23), to host The Lincoln University in non-conference action on Friday evening at Manuel Rivero Hall.
Sophomore outside hitter Paulina Calero (El Centro, Calif.) led the Golden Falcons with 12 kills. Freshman middle blocker Anna Piedel (Garfield, N.J.) added a season-high eight kills. Defensively, Coccia came up with more than half of Felician's 52 digs on the night.
Trailing 24-21 in Set 1, Felician saved three set points on a Calero kill, a Lincoln error, and a block by Piedel and Kaleysa Vodrazka (Bayonne, N.J.). The teams traded side-outs until, with the Lions leading 27-26, an attack error by the Golden Falcons ended the set. In all, the set was tied nine times.
The hosts recovered from a 17-12 second-set deficit by capturing six rallies in a row. The teams were tied at every juncture between 18-18 and 22-22 before Lincoln won the final three points, using an ace and a kill from Mariah Russell (St. Louis, Mo.), to break away for a two-sets-to-none edge in the match.
Lincoln (6-21) went up, 20-13, in the third set, but had to withstand a late charge from the Golden Falcons. A 4-0 Felician run made it 21-18 before kills by Carmen Shaw (Gardnerville, Nev.) and Calero brought the visitors to within 22-20. The Lions won the next two rallies to reach match point, but two kills by Calero and a Lincoln error made it 24-23. Russell then ended the match with her 16th kill of the night.
Russell led all players in kills and added eight digs and three aces. Lincoln freshman Atarah Lindsey (Detroit, Mich.) hit .429 with 11 kills and 11 digs.
Freshman setter Charlotte Greek (Menifee, Calif.) amassed 31 assists and eight digs for Felician (0-27).
Felician is back home to take on regionally-ranked Post University on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play in Rutherford, N.J.
