RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Sophomore libero MaryGrace Puryear (Cranford, N.J./Cranford) recorded 30 digs, more than double her previous career high, to help lead Felician University to a 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-22, 25-17) Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women's volleyball victory over visiting Concordia (N.Y.) College on Friday night at Job Gymnasium.

Felician (2-5, 1-2 CACC) turned in a strong defensive performance. The Golden Falcons held Concordia to an attack percentage of .057. The hosts pulled up a season-best 87 digs, and added 12.5 blocks, seven of which involved sophomore middle blocker Katie Asbery (Mililani, Hawaii/Mililani).

Felician freshman outsider hitter Kahea Aea (Mililani, Hawaii/Kamehameha) produced season highs of 18 kills and 16 digs. Junior opposite hitter Kaleysa Vodrazka (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) added eight kills and four blocks. Junior outside Camila Rabassa (Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico Paced Concordia (0-4, 0-3) with 11 kills and four blocks.

A lengthy first set featured 11 ties and eight lead changes. The largest lead for either side was Felician's 14-10 edge. At 23-23, a kill by Aea brought the Golden Falcons to set point. Nilka Rivera (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Discipulos de Cristo), however, answered for the Clippers, and the visitors then took advantage of two Felician errors to claim the set, 26-24.

The Golden Falcons trailed, 11-6, in Set 2. They did not lead until the 19-18 mark. With Felician ahead, 21-20, the Clippers used a Lauren Peters (Monterey Park, Calif./San Gabriel Mission) kill and a Felician error to move back in front. But Felician captured the last four rallies to close out the set and even the match, the final point coming on a fortunate play when Aea reached behind her to save an errant pass and the ball sailed over the net and in-bounds onto the floor untouched.

Felican appeared to carry momentum into Set 3 when it jumped in front, 12-5. The Clippers came all the way back to a 16-16 tie, only to see the Golden Falcons win the next three points. However, Tatianna Tugada-Sua (Kalihi, Hawaii/Saint Francis School) had two blocks and a kill in a run which again brought Concordia even, this time at 22-22. An Aea kill and a Clipper error brought the Golden Falcons to set point, which Asbery won with a solo block.

During Set 4, the Golden Falcons finally started to outlast their guests, keyed by an eight-point run which turned a one-point lead into a 17-9 advantage. Aea had two kills and an ace during the spurt. The Clippers came as close as 19-15, but another solo block from Asbery would eventually end the match two hours, four minutes, after the first service.

Felician ended a seven-match losing streak to Concordia dating back to 2014. Golden Falcon freshman setter Sierra Gallagher (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kamehameha) had season highs of 21 assists, 13 digs and three aces, and senior defensive specialist Amanda Coccia (Rahway, N.J./Roselle Catholic) a season-best 14 digs. Rivera had 25 digs to go with four kills and four blocks for Concordia.

Puryear is the fourth player in the 15-year history of the Felician program to enjoy a 30-dig match, joining Pati Giemza (twice), Erica Moore (twice) and Nicole Niedzwicki.

Felician gets right back on the court on Saturday at 1 p.m. to face Goldey-Beacom College in CACC action in Rutherford.