Pride Rallies in First Set On Way to Defeating Albertus Magnus

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Regis College came back from seeing Albertus Magnus serve for the first set to win it, using the momentum to defeat the Falcons, 3-0 (28-26, 25-11, 25-19), Saturday in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's volleyball match at the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletics Center.

Albertus Magnus (10-10, 2-7 GNAC) opened a 13-6 lead in the first set before Regis scored five straight points, starting with a kill and a solo block by Lauren Butt (Topsfield, Mass.). After the Pride pulled to within one at 20-19 on a kill by Erin Gallagher (Tyngsboro, Mass.), the Falcons won four of the next five points, led by three kills from Vanessa Isyk, to bring about set point at 24-20.

Regis took advantage of two Falcon errors, and then two kills by Katryna Veasey (Quincy, Mass.) sandwiched around a kill by Butt gave the Pride their first set point chance at 25-24. A kill by Ashley David and a Pride attack error allowed the Falcons to regain the lead with another chance to win the set, but they committed a service error. Regis finally clinched the first set thanks to a block by Jordan Sterenberg (Oceanside, N.Y.) and Julia Pelland (Brockton, Mass.) followed by a kill from Pelland.

Tori Ondris (Mineola, N.Y.) earned four service aces as Regis scored the first six points of the second set, and then the Pride scored five unanswered points later in the set, including two kills apiece by Pelland and Veasey, to open a 14-5 advantage. Regis closed out the set with a 7-2 scoring run, featuring a service ace by Emma Morales Cestero (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and a kill by Rachel Bartels (Edinburg, Texas).

The Falcons jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third set, led by two kills from Isyk, and held onto a multiple-point lead until the midway point of the set. Down 12-9, the Pride put together an 11-3 scoring run, led by Butt with two blocks and a kill. Pelland earned a kill and a service ace to bring about match point, and Regis clinched the sweep on a Falcon attack error.

Veasey notched her ninth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 12 digs, while Butt finished with six kills and four total blocks and Pelland also collected six kills. Ondris earned 13 assists, four service aces, and five digs, Emily Fagundo (Dover, N.H.) contributed a season-high 18 assists, and Caroline Fuentes (Downey, Calif.) led all players with 19 defensive digs.

Isyk led Albertus Magnus with 11 kills and four total blocks, with Genesis Cora Luquis adding eight kills and eight digs. Jaiden Williams accumulated 21 assists, and Maria Vazquez led the Falcon defense with 12 digs.

Regis (9-12, 2-5 GNAC) hosts Anna Maria at Higgins Court Wednesday, Oct. 17, beginning at 6 p.m. Albertus Magnus travels to face Dean Monday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. before hosting St. Joseph Wednesday night.