PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's volleyball team fell in a back-and-forth five set match Friday evening to Fredonia to kick off the Golden Flyer Invitational, 18-25, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 10-15. With the loss, The Cardinals fall to 4-6 overall on the season, while the Blue Devils improve to 7-2 overall.

In the opening set, both teams traded scoring runs that eventually ended with Fredonia holding a 13-12 advantage. Fisher was able to put together a 5-0 run early on, which included two Izzy Smith service aces and kills from Smith and Erica Pawlewicz.  The Blue Devils followed up a 5-0 run of their own, giving them a late 22-16 lead. Fredonia continued their momentum with three straight points to take the first set.

The Cardinals came out swinging in the second set after dropping the first, opening a 6-2 lead led by two Alea Steigerwald aces and two blocks from Smith and Emily Risch. Fisher did not let their foot off the gas for the majority of the second set, putting together a 7-0 run late in the set to give them a 23-15 lead. Elise Kreuz was in control from the service line during the late scoring run, posting two service aces.  After three straight Fredonia points, a Bernadette Nichols kill tied the match back up at one set apiece.

Much like the Cardinals in the second set, the Blue Devils took the momentum and carried a lead for the majority of the third set, to take back the one set advantage. Steigerwald led the way for the Cardinals offense in the third set with four kills.

Both teams continued to trade points back-and-forth, which made for a very entertaining fourth set on Bobby Wanzer Court. Fisher gained the largest lead of the set at 22-19 off of a Fredonia hitting error, which gave them some momentum to pull ahead and allow Nichols to once again end the fourth set with a kill.

Just as they did in the third set, the Blue Devils came out strong and opened up an 8-2 run in the deciding fifth set. Fisher climbed back to within three, however Fredonia was able to hold on and a take the thrilling five set match.

Steigerwald led the way for the Fisher offense with 18 kills, to go along with a team-high four service aces and 19 digs. Pawlewicz, Smith, and Nichols each posted six kills, while Rebecca Hay notched 34 assists. Kreuz notched a team-high 21 digs, as well as three service aces and three assists.

The Cardinals are back in action for two matches tomorrow afternoon inside Manning and Napier Gymnasium, as they welcome Baldwin Wallace University at 11 a.m. and Medaille College at 1 p.m., both as part of the Golden Flyer Invitational.