Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. - Lynn University's volleyball team went the distance in both of its matches on Friday to kick off the 2016 campaign at the Shark Invitational, falling just short to 11^th-ranked Rockhurst University in the morning contest before persevering over Bentley University in the nightcap, 3-2.

INSIDE THE MATCHUPS:
Finals: #11 Rockhurst 3, Lynn 2 (19-25, 25-20, 14-25, 25-21, 9-15) | Lynn 3, Bentley 2 (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 19-25, 15-12)
Records: Lynn (1-1), #11 Rockhurst (1-1), Bentley (0-2)
Location: NSU Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
Match 1

• Lydia West started off the 2016 season on an offensive tear, blasting 6-of-6 in the opening frame, but a 6-0 run from Rockhurst downed Lynn in the first set. 
• Cleuza Porto and Nicol Colonna combined for eight kills in the second set to help knot the match at 1-1, but a poor hitting performance in the third gave the lead back to Rockhurst.
• The fourth frame went back-and-forth but sound defense, including seven digs each from Marissa Tandron and Katie Knight, kept the Fighting Knights alive to force a fifth set. Lynn battled back from a 9-3 deficit in the decider but the opposition closed out the match on a 5-0 run.

Match 2

• The sides traded a pair of 25-22 sets to open up the match in a 1-1 draw. West had another strong start, bouncing seven kills in the opener despite the setback. West added five more in the second along with seven from Porto. Freshman Elna Argen, making her collegiate debut, put away two and threw up a block.
• The Blue & White seemed to be in the driver's seat for victory, posting a 25-18 win in the third and holding a 15-12 lead in the fourth but were sent to a fifth set for the second time on the day. Colonna had a solid third frame, putting away 7-of-8, while Knight dished out four aces.
• Lynn took control of the lead at 9-8 in the fifth and never gave it back, closing out its first triumph of the new season.

STATS OF THE DAY:

• Porto led the offensive effort with 42 kills, hitting the 20-kill mark in both matches.
• West surpassed 15 kills in both matches in efficient fashion, averaging a .493 attack clip for the day.
• West and Colonna each logged five blocks to lead the frontline defense.
• The Fighting Knights featured four players with double-digit digs in both contests. Knight recorded 20+ each time out.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Multiple Fighting Knights notched career-highs in the Bentley match. West slammed home 24 kills; a rare feat for a middle blocker, Tandron dished out 59 assists and Knight served up seven aces. Knight's seven ties the program record for aces in a five-set match, while only three Fighting Knights have ever recorded more in any match.

UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights return to Nova Southeastern tomorrow, Sept. 3, to close out the Shark Invite at 2 and 7 p.m.