ERIE, PA -- The Alfred University women's volleyball team defeated Fredonia State, 3-1 on Friday evening to open up play at the Penn State Behrend Invitational.

The Saxons (4-0, 0-0 Empire 8) defeated the Blue Devils (3-2, 0-0 SUNYAC) 25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18. "So happy for our team tonight," Head Coach Mike Honeycutt said. "Losing one of our primary contributors in the second set really changed the momentum. We were able to reset in the third and fourth sets and come away with the victory. It was a true team effort tonight!"

Alfred University has never had a 4-0 start to a season since the NCAA transitioned to the rally-scoring system in 2001.

Alfred U had three players in double-digit scoring as Taylor Malone (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) led the way with a match-high, 17.5 points, tying the leading scorer for the Blue Devils. Malone had a match-high, 17 kills while adding one block assist. She hit .455 on her 33 attacks with only two errors while also completing a double-double with 11 digs. Joining Malone were Cara Bratthauar (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg Area) and Catherina Krause (Pflugerville, TX/Hendrickson) as both totaled 11.0 points. Bratthauar had eight kills, two solo blocks and two block assists while Krause had seven kills, one solo block and four block assists, leading the entire match at the net. Bratthauar hit a team-high and match-high .462 on her 13 attacks with two errors. Carleigh Santavy (Commerce, MI/Walled Lake Northern) hit .400 on her 15 attacks with seven kills and one error. No one on the Fredonia team hit above a .387.

Jamie Chun (Hilo, HI/Hilo) had a match-high, 16 digs to lead the backline. She added an ace and two set assists. Jordan Gilbert (Barrington, NH/Coe-Brown Northwood Academy) led AU with 19 set assists, Jessica Lucille Ramirez (Riverside, CA/Hillcrest) added 18 set assists while Delaney Sims (Bogart, GA/George Walton Academy) added 11 in two sets played.

The Saxons will next face Thiel College at noon on Saturday, September 7 before turning their sights towards Penn State Behrend at 4pm.