RINDGE, N.H.- The Pace University women's volleyball team defeated the Ravens of Franklin Pierce in the Northeast-10 Championship Quarterfinal 3-2. Pace advances to the NE-10 Final Four on Friday. The Setters took the first set 25-20 while the Ravens took the second set 25-23. Pace won the third set 25-14, while the Ravens rallied to take set four 25-22. The Setters took the match in the final set 15-12.
In the opening set, the Setters traded points, taking control late to take a 21-16 advantage. Pace took a 1-0 match lead with a 25-20 win in the opener. Pace took early lead in the second set leading 4-1 and held a 19-15 advantage later in the set. The Ravens rallied to tie the score and eventually tool the second set 25-23 to even the match at one.
The Setters jumped out to a decisive advantage in the third set as they held leads of 8-3, 11-5, 18-7, as they went on to take the third set by a score of 25-14. The Ravens jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the fourth set but the Setters rallied to even the set at 8-8. The teams traded points until in the set as the Ravens took a 21-18 lead. The Setters came up short as the Ravens took set four 25-22 to force a fifth and deciding set.
In the deciding set, Franklin Pierce took a 4-2 lead but the Setters answered to take a 5-4 lead. The Ravens evened the score at five but the Setters pushed out to a 9-5 lead. Franklin Pierce hung around, staying with 2-3 points the rest of the way, but the Setters held on to take the match and the final set 15-12.
Senior Nora Rugova (Mt. Kisco, NY/Fox Lane) (Mt. Kisco, NY/Fox Lane) tallied a match-high 21 kills along with 15 digs, while freshman Megan Kurz (San Diego, Calif./Patrick Henry) (San Diego, CA/Patrick Henry) added 13 kills. Senior Tamilee Webb (Hartsdale, NY/Ardsley) (Hartsdale, NY/Ardsley) totaled nine kills, two aces, seven digs and four total blocks. Senior Elyse Rowland (Antioch, CA/Deer Valley) (Antioch, CA/Deer Valley) led posted match-best 37 digs, while Brooke Speyerer (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region) (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region) added 53 assists, four kills, two blocks and seven digs. Freshman Alyssa Marchino (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) recorded 11 digs.
The Setters return to action on Friday, November 16 in the NE-10 Championship Semifinals that will be hosted by the highest seed remaining following the NE-10 Quarterfinal Round.
