WENHAM, Mass. — Gordon split its first two matches of the Gordon Invitational at the Bennett Center with a 3-2 loss to Neumann and a 3-1 victory over Smith.

In the first match, the Knights (1-0) took the first set as they recorded a .158 hitting percentage. The teams traded points back and forth to start the match before Neumann scored six straight points to take an 11-5 lead. The Fighting Scots (1-1) were able to cut the lead to three points with a 10-6 run. The Knights closed out the set by scoring eight of the next 12 points.

Gordon took the second set 26-24 after coming back from a 6-1 deficit to start the set. They outscored Neumann 25-18 the rest of the way with a .200 hitting percentage.

The Knights took the third set 25-20 as they recorded 16 kills and a .273 hitting percentage. They started the set off strong with a 17-12 run. The Fighting Scots scored two straight points to make it an 18-14 game before Neumann took the set by outscoring them 7-6 the rest of the way.

Gordon tied it up at 2-2 with a 25-23 win in the fourth set as they recorded a match-high 13 kills and .204 hitting percentage. Both teams traded points for much of the set with the Knights holding a slight advantage. Neumann took a 20-17 lead with two straight kills before the Fighting Scots closed out the set with an 8-3 run to force a fifth set.

In the fifth set, the teams traded points until they were tied at 4-4. The Knights scored eight out of the next 11 points to take a 12-7 lead. Gordon cut the lead to five points to make it a 14-9 game. Bre Hickey recorded a kill on the next volley to seal the win.

Amanda Sndyer recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 14 digs. Mackenzie Hinds posted nine kills, nine digs, and one block assist. Ashlyn Gergins led the team with 40 assists and also had 13 digs and a career-best four blocks. Jenny Curtiss led the team with 30 digs.

In the second match, the Fighting Scots took the first set 25-17 as they recorded 12 kills and a .286 hitting percentage. They traded points back and forth for much of the set with the Pioneers (0-1). After Smith tied the game at 12-12, Gordon went on a 13-5 run to close out the set.

The Fighting Scots won the second set 25-8 as they held Smith to two kills and a -.219 hitting percentage while recording 14 kills and a .303 hitting percentage.

The Pioneers won the third set 25-16. They started the set with a 14-7 run. Gordon scored three straight points to make it 14-10. Smith responded with four straight points to take an 18-10 lead. They closed out the set with a 7-6 run.

The Fighting Scots took the fourth set 25-16 with a match-high 16 kills and .484 hitting percentage.

Snyder recorded another double-double with 15 kills and 12 digs. Jacque Fitzgerald posted a career-high 11 kills. Gergins recorded 43 assists, three digs, and two aces.

After tonight's matches, Snyder has broken the 500-kill barrier and now has 515 career kills.

Gordon will host Framingham State and MCLA in its last two matches of the Gordon Invitational tomorrow at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.