GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (November 13, 2015) – Junior Aiden Garcia (Eagle Pass, Texas) dropped in a team-leading 12 kills on the night, but the Franklin Pierce University Ravens Volleyball team was unable to figure out the top team in the conference, as the Ravens lost in four sets to the Adelphi College Panthers 3-1.

With the loss, the Ravens drop to 17-9 overall (11-2 Northeast-10) and lose only their second conference match of the season, with both coming on the road. With the win, the Panthers improve to 22-4 (13-0 Northeast-10) and clinch the Northeast-10 regular season top spot, creating a two-game margin between them and the Ravens with only one game remaining.

The first set began rough for the Ravens, as Adelphi was able to throw their weight around early. Jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead before the Ravens got a point, the Panthers would only need that lead to take down the Ravens. Despite the Ravens coming within two points at 13-11, Adelphi would pull away with some Franklin Pierce errors leading to the spread. Leading the charge for Adelphi out of the gate would be Mandy Stanislovatis, who led the team with four kills in the set. The Panthers would take the set, 25-20 to go up 1-0.

Not much luck came for the Ravens in set two, as the Panthers replicated their first set magic, once again jumping out to a 5-0 lead early. However, the Ravens charged back, bringing things within one at 11-10. But Adelphi used multiple kills from Bailey Riedel and McKenna Clawson to grab a 17-12 lead before a Franklin Pierce timeout. The time stoppage didn't affect the Panthers, as they easily found themselves with another set win, 25-16 to go up 2-0.

The Ravens then found their way in set three, as sophomore Madison Klusendorf (Santa Maria, Calif.) exploded for four kills, leading Franklin Pierce in the process. After a 10-10 tie, the Ravens pushed forward to a 21-16 lead. But the Panthers were not to be stopped, making things interesting as the climbed back to a 22-21 set. But thanks to kills from Klusendorf and classmate Hannah St. Jean (Olympia, Wash.), the Ravens closed out the set 25-21 to make the match 2-1.

The Panthers, however, were not to be stopped as they pulled away from a 10-10 score midway though. Despite the Ravens best effort to push things to a deciding fifth set, coming back to a 23-19, the Panthers shut the door and took the win 25-19, and the match 3-1.

With Garcia leading Franklin Pierce in kills, freshman Katie Leidhold (Acushnet, Mass.) not only had a second-best total nine kills along with classmate Abigail Sonuga (Haverhill, Mass.), but Leidhold led the defensive charge with 25 digs. Senior Sarah MacHugh (Red Hook, N.Y.) was the only other Raven with double-digits in the category with 20 digs. Sophomore Hannah Runge (Deltona, Fla.) tossed out 34 assists in the effort.

For Adelphi, Stanislovaitis led the way with 18 kills, while Clawson pitched in with 13. Shelby Stoner was also strong offensively, pitching in with 12 kills. Megan Manierski was the facilitator of the Panther offensive charge, recording 54 assists. Defensively, Ajsha Mekulovic led with 19 digs on the match.

The Ravens return to action tomorrow, Satruday, November 14 when they stay on Long Island and travel to Pace University. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce volleyball apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).