Pride Open Connecticut Weekend at Trinity

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Regis College women's volleyball team opened its Connecticut weekend in Hartford, facing off against Trinity College, where the Bantams defended their home court with a 3-0 victory over the Pride. 

Ayla Albers (San Diego, Calif.) paced the Pride with six kills, while Avery Mola (Cheshire, Conn.) added four kills and six digs. Alexandra Rivera (Bristol, Conn.) directed the offense with 13 assists.

For Trinity, Ellie Gordon led all players with 10 kills, followed by Maggie Barnes with eight. On the defensive side, Scarlett Jago anchored the back row with a match-high 11 digs.

How it Happened:

The teams traded points early in the opening set before six unanswered from the Bantams put them ahead, 12-3. An error helped the Pride close the gap to within six midway through, but that would be as close as they would get as Trinity pulled away for a 25-14 first-set win.

The Bantams carried their momentum into set two, jumping out to a 6-0 lead. Three straight errors cut the margin in half, but Trinity quickly rebuilt its advantage with an eight-point run to make it 17-7. The Pride battled back, as a Mola kill sparked a 6-1 run that closed the deficit to 22-18. Back-to-back kills from Mola and Albers pulled Regis within three, but the Bantams sealed the frame with a final kill, taking it 25-21.

Set three saw Regis take its biggest lead of the night at 8-5 behind a Grace Fabiano (Greenland, N.H.) kill and a Gwen Arnold (West Hartford, Conn.) service ace. Trinity responded with an 11-2 run to surge in front, 16-10. The Pride answered again as Olivya Bush (Spring, Texas) delivered a kill and a service ace during a 4-0 run that cut the margin to 17-15. The Bantams regrouped out of a timeout, scoring three straight points and using that momentum to close out the set, 25-18, and secure the 3-0 sweep.

Inside the Numbers:

• Olivya Bush recorded a career-high two service aces. 
• Ayla Albers has tallied six kills in back-to-back matches. 
• All four of Regis's Connecticut natives saw the court in their home state tonight. 

Up Next:

The Pride remain in Connecticut tomorrow, traveling to Mitchell College for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match with Simmons. Regis is scheduled to take the court at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.