Buffalo, NY – Opening the home portion of their schedule Wednesday evening, the D'Youville women's volleyball team lost to the visiting St. John Fisher Cardinals by the final score of 3-0.

The Spartans came out strong on their home court against the Cardinals, taking an early 8-5 lead on three straight Christina Horton (Irondequoit, NY/West Irondequoit) serves. Fisher fought back to get within 1 point of the Spartans but back-to-back kills from Abby Booth (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) and Julie Fleming (Tonawanda, NY/Mt. St. Mary's Academy) would allow the Spartans to pull back out to an 12-8 lead. Despite the promising play early, D'Youville's lead would evaporate as the Cardinals would take the first set 25-21.

Set two would open up even with teams tied at 6 early on. After getting within 4 points of Fisher following a Megan McCarthy (Eden, NY/Eden) kill, Fisher would take off from their 12-8 and never look back. Down 20-8, the Spartans would chip away at the lead thanks to back-to-back service aces from Kendyll Smith (Petrolia, PA/Karns City). The effort would be too late as the Cardinals would take set two by the final of 25-15.

Facing their final set, the Spartans came out on top of their game. Leading 6-1,  a block from Fleming and Megan Schneider (Lockport, NY/Lockport) would give D'Youville a commanding 7-1 lead. The resilient Cardinals would fight their way back in the match and take it over, holding an 18-12 lead. D'Youville would do their best to get back in it but eventually lose the set 25-20 and the match 3-0.

Megan McCarthy had a team high 6 kills, followed by 5 from Schneider and 4 from Kaylee Stewart (Wilson, NY/Wilson). Kaitlynn Grimm (Erie, PA/Iroquois) had 11 kills while Horton and Booth tied for the team high with 10 assists each. Fleming had 3 total blocks for the team lead.

The women will get another chance to end their current losing skid this weekend as they head to the Oswego State Tournament.