HOBOKEN, N.J. — The Catholic University volleyball team showed well but fell to Stevens in a four-set affair to open its season on Friday night. 

Playing at the Stevens Tournament, the Cardinals came out hot and were able to take the first set from a strong Ducks team, 25-22. Olivia Blondin was big down the stretch in the opening frame, providing Catholic's last two kills while Sydney Sheppard provided assists on the final three Cardinal attack points. Sheppeard noticed 33 assists on the night.

The Ducks stormed back to take set two comfortably (25-16) before a real battle broke out in the third. After taking a 23-22 lead, Stevens rallied to rattle off three-straight points and take the all-important third set.

It was a similar story in the fourth frame as Heather Stout's side went up 21-20 before Stevens produced a 5-0 run to ice the contest.

Blondin led the way with 12 kills just ahead of Tanya Sichling who produced 11. Gaby Hernandez-Ferraiuoli registered 15 digs while Sichling notched nine and Blondin registered eight.

Catholic will look to respond and pick up its first wins of the young campaign when it faces Defiance and Union tomorrow. The Cardinals will battle the Yellow Jackets at 11 a.m. before meeting the Dutchmen at 4 p.m.