Pride Rally Falls Short in Five-Set Battle at Rhode Island College

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Regis College volleyball team traveled to the Ocean State this afternoon for a non-conference matchup against the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen. After the hosts jumped out to a two-set lead, the Pride battled back with consecutive set victories to force a decisive fifth. However, RIC prevailed in the final frame, handing the Pride the hard-fought loss and moving their record to 12-9 on the season.

Eva Catalanotto (Cheshire, Conn.) led the Pride with 14 kills and five total blocks, finishing with 19 points, while Grace Fabiano (Greenland, N.H.) was close behind with 14 kills and 4.5 total blocks for 18.5 points. Alexandra Rivera (Bristol, Conn.) ran the offense with 41 assists, and first-years Gwen Arnold (West Hartford, Conn.) and Beatriz Paulo (Newton, Mass.) anchored the defense with 23 and 15 digs, respectively.

For Rhode Island College, Sarina Marines paced the Anchorwomen with a game-high 15 kills, while Sydnee Pires contributed 5.5 total blocks. Caroline Morrell stood out on the service line, recording seven aces in the victory.

How it Happened

The Anchorwomen took control early, using a 6-0 run to build a 14-6 lead in the opening set. Catalanotto and Avery Mola (Cheshire, Conn.) helped spark a Pride rally with two kills apiece, cutting the deficit to one at 15-14. Regis closed the gap to within one again at 18-17, but Rhode Island College responded with three unanswered points to pull away and secure the 25-20 set one victory.

Fueled by three kills from Marines, the Anchorwomen raced out to a 6-0 lead in set two before a kill from Fabiano stopped their momentum and sparked the Pride to even the frame at 7-7 following a block by Catalanotto and Ayla Albers (San Diego, Calif.). However, RIC regained control, doubling up the Pride 14-7 after an ace. Later in the set, a Mola kill brought Regis within two at 16-14, but that was as close as they would get, as the Anchorwomen closed on a 9-1 run to take the set and move one step closer to victory.

Behind early kills from Fabiano and Catalanotto, the Pride surged to an 8-3 lead over RIC. The Anchorwomen battled back to even the score at 12 before edging ahead 14-12, but a balanced Pride attack responded, reclaiming an 18-16 advantage and forcing an RIC timeout. Out of the break, first-year standouts Catalanotto and Paulo powered the Pride to the set-three victory, combining for six kills to secure the 25-19 win and force a fourth set.

A Fabiano kill evened the score at seven before the Pride rattled off four straight points to take an 11-7 lead. The Anchorwomen responded with aces to tie the set at 14 and again at 16, but couldn't pull ahead. Later, another Fabiano kill gave Regis a 21-17 cushion, but RIC answered with five unanswered points to grab a slim lead. However, the Pride responded, closing the set on a four-point run capped by a Rivera kill, to claim the 25-22 win and force a decisive fifth set.

A RIC block doubled up the Pride early, 6-3, but Regis hung tough and pulled even at 7-7 following a pair of Anchorwomen errors. From there, however, it was all RIC, as four unanswered points propelled the hosts to the set and match victory, sealing the 15-10 fifth-set win.

Inside the Numbers

• Eva Catalanotto and Grace Fabiano both had career-nights for the Pride in kills with 14 each and points, with 19 and 18.5 points, respecitvely. 
• Defensively, first-years Gwen Arnold and Beatriz Paulo set career highs in digs, recording 23 and 15, respectively.
• As a team, the Pride had season highs in kills (55), digs (92), and total blocks (12). 
• This afternoon marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Up Next

The Pride have a quick turnaround, heading to Keene State University tomorrow for a tri-match against the host Owls and the University of Southern Maine Huskies, with matches scheduled for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.