Pride Split Tri-Match on Higgins Court

WESTON, Mass. — Regis College women's volleyball hosted a tri-match today against Emerson College and Husson University. The Pride fell in a hard-fought five-set battle to the Lions, 3-2, before bouncing back to sweep the Eagles from Husson University, improving their season record to 6-6.

Regis vs. Emerson

The Pride jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before an error stalled their momentum. From there, both squads exchanged the lead until a 5-0 run from Regis - bookended by a block from Beatriz Paulo (Newton, Mass.) and Grace Fabiano (Greenland, N.H.) - gave the Pride a 15-12 advantage. However, the Lions wouldn't go away, closing the set on a 7-1 run to take the opening frame, 25-22.

Set two featured back-and-forth action until a Fabiano kill sparked the Pride to four unanswered points, giving them a 12-9 lead. A trio of kills from Shirley Yu fueled a 6-0 Lions run, but Regis responded to narrow the score to 17-16. The Lions maintained a lead of up to three points before the Pride closed out the set with four unanswered points, including a Fabiano kill that sealed a 25-22 victory, tying the match at one set apiece.

The Lions jumped out to a 12-6 lead early in the third set after an ace, but Ayla Albers (San Diego, Calif.) rallied her team to spark a comeback that tied the game at 14. Later, a kill from Mola combined with a Lions error gave Regis a 22-18 advantage, which they held onto after an Eva Catalanotto service ace ended the set 25-20, putting the Pride ahead 2-1.

The Lions dominated the fourth set, racing to a 12-4 lead before a Catalanotto kill slowed their momentum. The early advantage proved enough as the Lions secured the set 25-18, forcing a decisive fifth set.

The final set featured five ties and two lead changes before the Lions scored three unanswered points to take a 10-7 lead. Albers then hit a pair of service aces during a 4-0 Pride run that reclaimed an 11-10 lead. Shortly after, a Mola kill brought Regis within one point of victory, but a Lions kill followed by two service aces closed out the set and secured their 3-2 win over the Pride.

Regis vs. Husson

The Pride jumped out to an early 7-2 lead against Husson. Although the Eagles closed the gap to within four, five Husson errors sparked a 7-0 run for Regis, pushing the score to 21-9 and helping the Pride secure a 25-14 win in the opening set.

Set two began similarly, but this time it was the Eagles who surged ahead with a 9-3 lead. A kill from Olivya Bush (Spring, Texas) halted their momentum, and the Pride stayed competitive, eventually tying the score at 13 following a kill from Mola. Husson then pulled ahead by five points before two key kills from Fabiano and Paulo brought Regis back to 24-22. Fabiano's final kill sealed the set, 25-23, to go up 2-0 in the match. 

In the third set, the Pride capitalized on four Husson errors and an ace from Albers to build an early 10-4 advantage. Regis maintained the lead for most of the set, but when they were within one point of clinching the match, the Eagles rallied with six unanswered points. Ultimately, Olivya Bush ended the comeback attempt with a kill to secure a 25-23 set victory and complete Husson's 3-0 sweep over the Pride.

Inside the Numbers

• Avery Mola had a team-high 13 kills and season-high 17 digs in game one, while Gwen Arnold had a career-high 18 digs in the effort. 
• Alexandra Rivera (Bristol, Conn.) dished out 35 assists against Emerson, marking her fifth time this year surpassing 30 assists ina. single game. 
• Beatriz Paulo and Grace Fabiano controlled the game at the net against Emerson, notching six blocks. 
• Olivya Bush had a career-high six kills against Husson. 

Up Next

The Pride will return to Higgins Court on Wednesday, September 24, to host Endicott College - Coach Anderson's alma mater - in a 7 p.m. matchup.