NEW HAVEN, CONN. –  For the second straight season, the Queens College volleyball team opened the season in New Haven, Connecticut as they competed in the SCSU Tri-Series Friday evening. 
 
The Knights went up against the Dominican College Chargers in game one before playing host Southern Connecticut State University Owls in the nightcap. Denoted as the visiting team in both games, the Knights fell 3-1 against the Chargers, before falling 3-1 against the Owls. 
 
Game One vs. Chargers: QC: 1, DC: 3
 
How it Happened

• Middle blocker Anjeline Arnakis (Bayside, N.Y.) and Christina Franco (Lynbrook, N.Y.) made their debut for the Knights. 
• Trailing 10-3, the Knights fought back to take the first set 25-20
• 13 errors hurt the Knights in the second set as the Chargers tied the match with a 25-16 second set win. 
• In the third set trailing 20-14, the Knights comeback effort fell short as they fell 25-20 to trail 2-1. 
• It was another slow start for the Knights in the fourth set as they quickly trailed 6-0 forcing a Knights timeout. 
• Knights would fight back to cut the score down to 8-6. But the Chargers went on a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 15-6. 
• But the comeback would fall short as the Knights dropped the fourth set (25-19) and the match 3-1. 

By the Numbers

• In her first collegiate game, Franco impressed with her first double-double of the season with a team-high 11 kills and 13 digs. 
• Franco's 11 kills are the most kills by a rookie since Briana Green tallied 11 kills against Georgian Court on September 1, 2017 season opener. 
• Junior Genesis Soto (San Juan, Puerto Rico) tallied 10 kills.
• Sophomore Jorden Warthen (Baldwin, N.Y.) tallied her first career double-double with 28 assists and 10 digs.

Game Two vs. SCSU- QC: 1, SCSU: 3
 
How it Happened

• After trailing 6-2 in the early, the Knights would eventually gain a 14-11 advantage before both sides would exchange the lead. 
• A bad set by the Owls pushed the Knights one point (25-24) away from winning the first set. But a service error by Franco tied the first set but would eventually drop the first set 28-26.
• The Knights would struggle in the second set as the Owls quickly went up 2-0 with a 25-11 second set win. 
• Not going away without a fight, the Knights fought back to trim the deficit to one (2-1) with a 25-16 third set victory.
• Looking to force the fifth and deciding set, the Knights traded leads before the Owls went on a 6-0 run to take a 15-9 lead. 
• The Knights were unable to complete the comeback as they fell 25-15 to open the season 0-2. 

By the Numbers

• Rookie Franco fell short of a consecutive double-double as she produced nine kills and nine digs against the Owls. 
• In the third set, Franco paced the Knights with five kills.
• Sophomore Leila Hadjeb (Queens, N.Y.) tallied a team-high 13 digs.
• In the first set, there were six lead changes with the first set being tied 11 times.
• In the fourth set, both sides exchanged the lead five times, while being tied eight times. 

UP NEXT: The road trip continues for the Knights as they travel to Caldwell, New Jersey with a matchup against Caldwell University on Tuesday (Sept. 7) at 5:00 p.m from the George R. Newman Center. Live Stats and live stream available! 

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