MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Felician University women's volleyball team began the 18^th season in program history on Saturday with a pair of matches hosted by Saint Anselm College at Stoutenburgh Gymnasium. The Golden Falcons went down to a 3-0 defeat to the host Hawks before suffering a 3-1 loss to Bloomsburg University.

Junior outside hitter Hannah Chiswick (Pittstown, N.J.) paced Felician with a combined 23 kills and 23 digs over the seven sets.

The season got off to a difficult start, as the Golden Falcons fell to host Saint Anselm, 25-7, 25-19, 25-28, in their morning match. The Hawks kept the rallies short, posting a .557 team attack percentage and limiting their guests to 21 digs.

Hawk junior setter Michelle Henwood (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) ran the efficient offense, posting 28 assists and six digs. Her favorite targets were sophomore Audrey Simmons (North Hampton, N.H.) (.688, 11 kills) and junior Lois Dogbe (Winchester, Calif.) (.588, 10 kills). Senior outside Maddie Sloan (Caldwell, N.J.) paced Felician with eight kills and seven digs.

The Golden Falcons took the first set against Bloomsburg later on Saturday, but succumbed, 18-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-17 in a match that lasted one hour, 49 minutes. Felician led only once, 16-15 in the third, during any of the final three sets.

During a match that saw both teams reach double figures in service errors, the Huskies owned advantages of 11-4 in aces and 7-3 in blocks. Bloomsburg graduate libero Alyssa Cianciulli (Royersford, Pa.) collected 35 digs, and senior teammate Sydney Buell (Yardley, Pa.) paced the offense (.353, 14 kills).

For Felician, Chiswick turned in team highs of 19 kills and 21 digs. Sloan put down 10 kills, and junior setter Miquela Martinez (Santa Fe, N.M.) accumulated 16 assists and 15 digs.

Felician crosses Manchester to Southern New Hampshire University on Sunday for two more matches -- against Le Moyne College and the host Penmen.