PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Returning to the friendly confines of the Goldstein Fitness Center for the first time in seven matches, the Pace University volleyball team defeated Mercy College on Friday night by a 3-1 margin (25-11, 25-9, 23-25, 25-15). The Setters improve to 7-13 on the season with the win.

Inside the Numbers
It was senior Sydney Lecker (Littleton, CO/Chatfield) piloting the Setters attack Friday night, recording 15 of Pace's 53 kills. In addition to the season-best kills total, Lecker also recorded 14 digs for her fourth double-double on the year.

Junior Claudia Fontanet (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) and sophomore Danielle Vaiano (Seaford, NY/St. Anthony's) each reached double digits in digs as well, recording 19 and 16, respectively. Vaiano also chipped in on the serving front, recording a season-high eight service aces on the night.

Freshman Nicole Pivetti (Modena, Italy/Liceo Wiligelmo) and sophomore Samantha Nidini (Houston, TX/Clearlake) served as the main orchestrators of the Pace offense, combining for 28 assists. Nidini, in just her second season, has moved into fifth in program history with 1,396 career assists.

Natalia Quinones, Elien Peeters (Herdersem, Belgium/Onze Lieve Vrouwecollege), and Colette Clarke (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) each registered a solo block on the night. Clarke also added a season-best eight kills.

Set 1: Pace 25, Mercy 11
The Blue and Gold were able to take control of the first set on the back of a series of five-point runs en route to an opening victory. In addition to the lengthy runs, the Setters recorded just a single error compared to Mercy's 11. Lecker and Fontanet led Pace in kills in the set with four apiece.  
 
Set 2: Pace 25, Mercy 9
The second set was won in a similar fashion, as Pace was able to control the serve and go on lengthy offensive streaks that Mercy was unable to answer. After trading points back and forth for most of the set's start, the Setters put together runs of five, four, and ten points to distance themselves from the Mavericks, leading the set by as many as 16 points. Lecker and sophomore Maria Snelling (Cleveland, OH/Gilmour Academy) led the attack for the Blue and Gold with four kills apiece. The Setters were also able to capitalize on their serves, recording four aces in set, with three coming off the hand of Vaiano.

Set 3: Mercy 25, Pace 23
Determined to avoid a sweep, the Mavericks came out strong in the third set. Mercy jumped ahead early 3-1, and a series of multi-point runs and one-and-outs for Pace was enough for the Mavericks to hold off a hard fought comeback effort by the Blue and Gold. The Setters were able to pull within a single point in the set on three separate occasions. Lecker led the team in kills for a third set, matching Clarke with three.

Set 4: Pace 25, Mercy 15
The Setters were able to recoup from the third set and put the match away with a decisive win in the fourth. Eight Setters recorded kills in the frame, with Lecker once again leading the way with four. After four lead changes to open the set, the Blue and Gold were able to distance themselves from the Mavericks with a four-point run that put them up 9-6, a lead that they never surrendered.

Up Next
It will be short rest for the Setters as they return to action tomorrow afternoon. Pace will host NE10 rival Le Moyne College at 1 p.m. for tomorrow's Dig Pink match at the Goldstein Fitness Center.