HILLSDALE, MI -- It was a close match played at a high level between two women's volleyball teams that entered the week nationally ranked in NCAA Division II. However, one team had to win and one had to lose, and unfortunately for Gannon, the Golden Knights ended up on the losing end on Friday night.

No. 19 Hillsdale edged No. 17 Gannon 25-23, 33-31, 25-22 in Hillsdale College's Charger Invitational on Friday night as the Knights finished the day 1-1 after beating Ferris State earlier in the afternoon. 

The Gannon-Hillsdale match started more than two hours late because of the length of previous matches in the tournament. The match was close throughout, but in each of the three sets, the Chargers found a way to pull ahead and emerge with the win. In the marathon second set, Gannon fought off seven match points before Hillsdale (6-1) claimed the tense victory. Gannon led most of the third set before Hillsdale surged ahead at the end.

"I'm really proud of the team tonight despite the loss," Gannon coach Matt Darling said. "Certainly there were chances to be better in key moments, but you have to love the effort and the fight."

Gannon featured a balanced attack as junior outside hitter Madde Blake (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) led the way with 10 kills, followed by sophomore outside hitter Sam Deinek (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon East) (nine), redshirt senior middle blocker Maggie Greenfield (Woodstock, Ontario/Woodstock Collegiate Institute) (nine), senior middle blocker Sophia Glabus (Elmhurst, Ill./York) (eight) and sophomore right side Hailey Koch (Littleton, Col./Dakota Ridge) (eight).

Freshman setter Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey) posted a team-high 36 assists, while sophomore libero Emma Hall (Lowell, Mich./Lowell) again led the Knights defensively with 29 digs. Blake added 14 digs, and Arslan had 11.

Gannon moved to 4-2 on the season and will close the three-day tournament on Saturday with a noon matchup against the Colorado School of Mines, which entered the week ranked No. 14.

Gannon 3, Ferris State 1: On Friday afternoon, Deinek had a season-high 19 kills and as Gannon bounced back from its first loss with a four-set victory over Ferris State

The win was a boost for the Golden Knights, who were swept by unbeaten Missouri S&T on Thursday in the tourney opener. Missouri S&T went on to beat No. 14-ranked Colorado School of Mines on Friday morning.

Gannon won by scores of 25-22, 14-25, 25-16, 25-20 against Ferris State. After struggling in the second set, the Golden Knights regrouped to take the final two sets.

"The team played with great energy and played together, so this win goes to everyone on the roster," Matt Darling said. "We were looking for a bounce-back performance, and we got one."

Deinek led the Knights offensively with the 19 kills, which was a season-best for a Gannon player. Glabus was next with 13 kills, a personal season high. Arslan led Gannon with 41 assists. 

Defensively, Hall paced the Knights with 21 digs, while Deinek and Anja Vranic (Belgrade, Serbia) had 11 digs apiece. Glabus and Koch each had four blocks to lead Gannon.