Pride Fall to Monks in Five-Set Thriller at Higgins Court

WESTON, Mass. — The Regis College women's volleyball team hosted the Saint Joseph's College (Maine) Monks at Higgins Court on Wednesday night for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup. The Pride came close to handing the Monks their first conference loss, taking a 2-1 lead, but Saint Joseph's rallied to win the match 3-2, remaining unbeaten in GNAC play. With the loss, Regis fell to 13-11 overall and 6-2 in conference action.

Offensively, three Pride players recorded double-digit kills, with Grace Fabiano (Greenland, N.H.) and Avery Mola (Cheshire, Conn.) leading the way with 15 apiece. Fabiano also contributed four total blocks, while Mola added 20 digs and four service aces. Alexandra Rivera (Bristol, Conn.) directed the offense efficiently, tallying 40 assists. Defensively, five players notched double-digit digs, and Bella Karpicz (Berkley, Mass.) joined Fabiano at the net with four blocks each.

For the Monks, Greta Mackintosh led the offense with 10 kills and two service aces. On the defensive side, Saint Joseph's dominated at the net, with three players recording five or more total blocks. Emily Mendelson led the effort with a game-high seven blocks.

How it Happened

The first set featured back-and-forth action, with neither team leading by more than three points until four unanswered from the Monks put them ahead 21-17. Back-to-back kills from Fabiano and Ayla Albers (San Diego, Calif.) stopped the bleeding and cut the Pride's deficit to two, but Regis couldn't regain the lead as Saint Joseph's took the opener, 25-20.

In set two, the Pride trailed 10-7 early before rallying. A pair of Fabiano kills sparked a six-point run that flipped the score in Regis' favor, 13-10. The Monks later pulled within one, but the Pride responded and closed the set with seven straight points, capped by a Rivera ace, to win 25-18 and even the match at one apiece.

The Pride carried that momentum into set three, taking control early when a Fabiano kill doubled up the Monks, 14-7. Two service aces from Mola helped extend the lead to 19-8, and the Pride cruised to a 25-14 victory, moving within one set of a match win.

Set four saw another strong start from Regis, as two more Mola aces pushed the lead to 12-7. However, four straight points from the Monks brought them back within one, 15-14. The Pride regained a five-point cushion, but Saint Joseph's answered with a five-point run of their own to tie it at 21. Regis went up 24-22, but two errors and a Monks ace gave Saint Joseph's a 25-24 edge. Although the Pride tied it once more, back-to-back kills from the Monks secured a 27-25 win, forcing a decisive fifth set.

In the final frame, Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 7-3 lead before a Monks error and an Albers kill briefly halted the momentum. That would be as close as Regis would get, though, as the Monks maintained control the rest of the way to close out the set 15-9 and the match 3-2.

Inside the Numbers

• Alexandra Rivera's 40 assist performance marked her third outing this year with 40 or more helpers. 
• Grace Fabiano as recorded 12 or more points in her last five outings, while Avery Mola has done so in her last three. 
• Tonight, the Regis women's volleyball team teamed up with the Ellie Fund for their Breast Cancer Awareness Game, hosting an informational table and selling gear to support the organization.

Up Next

The Pride remain in GNAC action this Friday, October 24 when they make the short trip to Emmanuel College for a 6 p.m. match against the Saints.