Regis Overcomes Slow Start for Third Straight Victory

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College overcame a sluggish first set, winning three sets in a row for a 3-1 victory over Fisher College Tuesday night in a non-conference women's collegiate volleyball match at Higgins Court.

Katryna Veasey (Quincy, Mass.) notched her eighth double-double of the season, leading the Pride with 11 kills and a season-high 20 digs. Rita Dow (Nashua, N.H.) earned eight kills without an attack error for a .400 hitting percentage, plus she led the team with five service aces and two block assists. Meg Adams (Ware, Mass.) collected four service aces and 11 digs, Emily Fagundo (Dover, N.H.) also had four service aces to go along with 13 assists and six digs, and fellow setter Tori Ondris (Mineola, N.Y.) contributed 18 assists, two service aces, and six digs.

Fisher (4-10) won the first three points of the match and never lost the lead in the first set, eventually extending its lead to 19-11 on a service ace by Cynthia Huerta and a Regis attack error. Three kills by Huerta helped the Falcons towards set point, and Fisher would clinch the opening set on the Pride's 11^th attack error of the first set.

The Pride opened the second set on a 7-1 scoring run, featuring two kills and three service aces by Dow. Fisher stayed in the set, closing its deficit to three on an ace by Lia Aime, and then using three straight kills by Huerta to cut the Pride lead to two at 16-14. Regis would win four of the final five points of the set, led by Dow with two kills and a block assist.

Regis scored the first five points of the third set thanks in part to kills by Valerie Whalen (Stoughton, Mass.) and Samantha Silveira (East Taunton, Mass.). The Pride would continue to increase their advantage as the set went on, closing it out with a 10-2 scoring run, led by three kills from Whalen.

The fourth set was the only one to contain any ties or lead changes, as Fisher scored the first two points before Regis scored the next three, capped by a service ace from Caiti Pope (Falmouth, Mass.). The Falcons retook the lead on two kills by Huerta, but the Pride pulled ahead for good thanks to five unanswered points, featuring three straight service aces by Fagundo.

The Pride extended their lead into double digits thanks to a 9-1 scoring run, but consecutive service aces by Aime brought the Falcons back within six at 19-13. Regis closed out the set and the match by scoring six of the final seven points, including three kills by Veasey.

Huerta led the Falcons with 16 kills and 19 digs, while Aime finished with 14 digs and five service aces. Katherine Rodriguez ran the offense for Fisher, ending up with 23 assists, seven digs, and two service aces, and Emma Soubosky contributed 12 digs for the visitors, who next play a doubleheader at Pine Manor Thursday, Oct. 3, starting at 6 p.m.

Regis (6-10) plays its next four matches away from home, starting Saturday, Oct. 5, at Gordon beginning at 10 a.m. The Pride return to their home floor for a key conference match against Saint Joseph's College Wednesday, Oct. 16, commencing at 7 p.m.