PITTSFORD, N.Y. - SUNY Geneseo junior libero Danielle Sayler totaled a match-best 21 digs while junior outside hitter Tricia Baxley added nine kills, but it was host St. John Fisher taking a 3-1 (25-21, 25-15, 21-25, 25-22) decision over the Knights, Tuesday, in both teams' season-opener.

Senior outside hitter Lizzy Morton added 16 digs while senior setter Bethany VanDerMeid was credited with 24 assists for Geneseo (0-1).

Trailing, 13-7, in the first game, Geneseo won 11 of the next 15 points to take a an 18-17 lead. The Cardinals (1-0) re-took the lead, 21-19, before closing out the game with three-straight points to take the opening win.

The second game saw the hosts get out to a 15-6 lead that grew to as many as 10 down the stretch as Geneseo fell into the 2-0 hole.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third game, but the Knights responded with a 10-1 spurt keyed by two Pendleton kills. The Cardinals got back within a point on three occasion, including 20-19, but a 5-2 spurt that included Pendleton and Baxley kills closed the Knights' third-game win.

Tied, 12-12, in game-four, St. John Fisher pulled away with a mini 5-1 run to take a 17-13 that the Knights couldn't recover from. 

Geneseo will return to action with five matches at the Cortland Invitational this Friday and Saturday (Sept. 4-5).