SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Facing conference competition for the first time in almost two weeks, the Pace University volleyball team suffered a 3-0 defeat (25-23, 25-13, 25-22) at American International College on Thursday night.

Senior Sydney Lecker (Littleton, CO/Chatfield) piloted the Setters' offense, tallying her third-consecutive double-double. Lecker finished the night with team-highs in both kills (11) and digs (14). She also added four block assists while hitting a team-best .300.

Sophomore Tatjana Calimpong-Burke (Waianae, HI/Iolani) and junior Claudia Fontanet (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) supplemented the Pace attack, combining for nine kills. Calimpong-Burke also chipped in five block assists.

Defensively, the Setters put together eight blocks—which is their second-highest total of the season. Sophomore libero Danielle Vaiano (Seaford, NY/St. Anthony's) chipped in 14 digs.

The first and third sets stayed tight throughout, but the home team hung on each time. Pace earned a 22-19 lead in the opening frame before AIC closed on a 6-1 run. The Setters also held firm in the final set until a quick 4-1 spurt turned a 20-19 deficit into 24-20 before finally ending at 25-22.

Up Next
The Setters will travel to Nyack, N.Y. on Saturday afternoon to take on Nyack College and Chestnut Hill College in a pair of matches.