Pace University Athletics

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Pace volleyball kicked off the weekend's Homecoming festivities in style on Friday night, picking up a 3-0 sweep against Franklin Pierce University in front of a home crowd at the Goldstein Fitness Center.

The win makes it four in a row for the Setters, who have dropped just a single set during their current homestand. The Blue and Gold improve their record to 10-13, and are 4-4 in the NE10 this season.

Inside the Numbers
Continuing the recipe for success that has yielded positive results over the past week, senior Sydney Lecker (Littleton, CO/Chatfield) led the Setters in kills for a fourth-straight match, recording 11 against the Ravens. Junior Claudia Fontanet (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) chipped in with another eight, while sophomore Maria Snelling (Cleveland, OH/Gilmour Academy) tied her season-high with seven kills of her own.

The duo of freshman Nicole Pivetti (Modena, Italy/Liceo Wiligelmo) and sophomore Samantha Nidini (Houston, TX/Clearlake) once again piloted the offense, combining for 23 of Pace's 35 assists. With a team-high 17 assists on the night, Pivetti has now recorded 48 over the Setters' last four matches.

Fontanet and sophomore Danielle Vaiano (Seaford, NY/St. Anthony's) led the Blue and Gold in digs, recording 15 and 14, respectively. Fontanet has now reached double-digit digs in each of the past five matches. Pace as a whole was able to halt the Franklin Pierce attack, limiting the Ravens to just a .017 hitting percentage on the night.

The Setters recorded 12 blocks as a team, led by four block assists from senior Colette Clarke (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck). Pace also registered seven service aces on the night, including four courtesy of Vaiano. Her 30 aces lead the team, and is seventh-best in the conference.

Set 1: Pace 25, Franklin Pierce 16
After surrendering the opening point, the first frame was controlled entirely by the Setters. Pace never trailed following the early 1-1 tie, and wwas able to ride a series of multi-point runs to effectively hold off Franklin Pierce. Lecker recorded five of her kills in the opening set, while Fontanet picked up three. Fontanet was the leader on the defensive front, picking up five digs in the frame. Lecker and Vaiano contributed four digs each. Pivetti led the Blue and Gold with seven assists in the opener.
 
Set 2: Pace 25, Franklin Pierce 15
The second frame looked to be shaping up to be a different story from the first after Franklin Pierce was able to jump ahead, 8-4. However, the Setters quickly fought back to draw even at 8-8, and soon after went on a 10-point run off the serves of Vaiano to gain a 18-9 advantage that was too much for the Ravens to overcome. Lecker once again was the attacking leader for the set, recording three kills. Pivetti tallied three assists, while Vaiano added two of her own. On the defensive side, Fontanet led the Setters with five digs in the frame.
 
Set 3: Pace 25, Franklin Pierce 16
The two squads opened the final set by trading points, playing to four separate ties. Even at 5-5, Pace was able to rally off four straight points to jump ahead, while another four-point run put the Blue and Gold up 14-7, a lead they did not surrender for the remainder of the match. Snelling and Fontanet each registered four kills in the closing frame to lead the Setters' attack. Vaiano picked up her final seven digs on the night, while Pivetti finished the match strong with another seven assists.
 
Up Next:
It will be short rest for the Setters, as they will be back in action at the Goldstein Fitness Center in less than 24 hours. Pace will host Southern New Hampshire University tomorrow at noon for its second Homecoming match of the weekend.