OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. – The Pace University women's volleyball team quickly captured the first two sets from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) in Tuesday's matchup, but the host Bears roared back to put the Setters on their heels and tie the match at two sets apiece. Ignoring the complete swing of momentum, the Setters got their rhythm back late, and rallied in the decisive fifth set to go home with another big win early in the 2016 campaign.
RESULTS
Pace 3, New York Institute of Technology 2 (25-16, 25-20, 19-25, 19-25, 15-12)
THRILLING FIFTH SET
- With all the momentum back on the side of the home team, the Bears ran out to a 7-4 lead and looked to be heading toward a comeback victory.
- Head Coach
Karrin Moore then called timeout to rally the troops, and it quickly turned into a five-point run for Pace to go up by two.
- NYIT tried the same strategy, and managed to tie the match at 10-10 after a timeout.
- Pace jumped out to a 13-11 lead, leading the Bears to call their final timeout.
- NYIT grabbed the next point, but the Setters took one right back to reach match point.
- An attack error by NYIT's Tina Stefanovic was the final piece of Pace's victory, as the Setters won the deciding game, 15-12.
HOW WE GOT THERE
- The Setters looked dominant through the first two frames, hitting .231 to take a quick 25-16 win in the first, and an impressive .344 to grab a 25-20 win and a 2-0 lead.
- NYIT grabbed back-to-back 25-19 wins in the third and fourth sets to tie the match and send it to a fifth game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Junior
Sydney Lecker (Littleton, CO/Chatfield) had her best match of the season so far, leading the Setters with 15 kills and adding 10 digs and a pair of blocks.
- Sophomore
Claudia Fontanet (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) threw down 14 kills and led Pace with 22 digs.
- Freshman
Samantha Nidini (Houston, TX/Clearlake) set a new season-high with 50 assists, reaching a double-double with 11 digs. She also recorded three blocks.
- Freshman
Tatjana Calimpong-Burke (Waianae, HI/Iolani) and sophomore
Kathleen Benson (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) each tallied 10 kills. Benson hit .348 in the match and had three blocks, while Calimpong-Burke led the Setters with four total blocks.
NYIT
- Karolina Moderova led all players with 21 kills.
- Portia McIntosh had a match-high 33 digs.
- Karley Brewster matched Nidini with 50 assists on the evening.
RECORDS
- Pace: 10-2
- NYIT: 10-2
UP NEXT
- The Setters come back home to Pleasantville on Thursday, Sept. 22, and welcome Dominican College to the Goldstein Fitness Center. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
For all information regarding Pace University Women's Volleyball, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow
Pace Volleyball on Facebook and Twitter (
@PaceVolleyball).
