CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell University volleyball team lost to visiting Post University, 3-1 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match Wednesday evening in the George R. Newman Center. The Cougars are now 17-9 overall and 11-4 in conference play following the loss, while the Eagles improve to 15-10, 10-5 CACC.

Caldwell won the first set, 25-23 before stumbling in the second set, 25-14. In a close third set, the Cougars held a slim lead for most of the set and had a 23-21 advantage. But Post scored the next three points, followed by service errors from both teams to make the score 25-24 Eagles. Julia Slyaktina put away the final kill to give Post a 2-1 edge in the match. The Eagles took control in the fourth set, building a 20-11 lead en route to a 25-18 victory. Post recorded 59 kills compared to 42 for Caldwell in the match.

Senior right side Erica Harrell (Richardson, TX/Plano East) led the Cougars with eight kills, while senior setter Athena Nestoras (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) added seven kills, 13 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Rachael DiLeonardo (Cincinnati, OH/Mount Notre Dame) tallied a team-best 20 digs to go with six kills. Senior libero Jaclyn Del Cid (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) had 17 digs, with freshman outside hitter Megan Gerali (Lakewood, CO/Lakewood) registering 10 digs and five kills. Nicole Brown and Skylar German paced the Eagles with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

Caldwell plays at Concordia College in a CACC match on Friday, Oct. 31. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. in Bronxville, N.Y.

CU – 25 14 24 18
PU –23 25 26 25