Hackettstown, N.J.: The Centenary University women's volleyball team battled hard in a competitive Atlantic East matchup on Saturday afternoon but came up short in a 3-1 loss to Neumann University inside the John. M. Reeves Student Recreation Center. 

Neumann (13–12, 4–1 AEC) took the opening set 25–16 before the Cyclones (14–13, 2–3 AEC) responded with a strong 25–19 win in the second to even the match. The third and fourth sets were tightly contested, but Centenary fell just short in both by identical 25–23 scores.

Junior outside hitter Poppy Skjonnemand led the way with a match high 19 kills along with 21 digs and a .222 hitting percentage, turning in yet another strong all-around performance. Junior Jenny Thistlethwaite added 10 kills and 10 digs for a double-double, while Camera Fulcher contributed 4 kills and 2 aces. 

Senior setter Vanessa Pagano paced the offense with 32 assists and an ace, while libero Rey Bennett led the defensive effort with 31 digs. Ava Estrada added three solo blocks to highlight the front-line defense.

As a team, Centenary totaled 76 digs, four service aces, and limited Neumann to a .180 hitting percentage in one of its grittiest efforts of the season.

The Cyclones return to action next week for continued Atlantic East Conference play.