PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Honoring their seniors in the final home match of the regular season, the Pace University volleyball team picked up a second-consecutive three-set sweep on Saturday afternoon with a victory against Merrimack College. The win improves the Setters' record on the season to 14-15, who now stand at 7-5 in the NE10.

Inside the Numbers
Junior Claudia Fontanet (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) was the leading attacker for the Blue and Gold on Saturday, registering nine kills against the Warriors. Senior classmates Sydney Lecker (Littleton, CO/Chatfield) and Colette Clarke (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) added eight and seven kills respectively to finish second and third on the team for the day. Fontanet also made her presence known defensively, leading Pace with 15 digs. Lecker added another 13 as the only other Setter to reach double-figures.
 
For a third consecutive match, sophomore Samantha Nidini (Houston, TX/Clearlake) led the team in assists, posting 17 against Merrimack. Three members of the Blue and Gold – Fontanet, Lecker, and Tatjana Calimpong-Burke (Waianae, HI/Iolani) – each recorded two service aces. The Setters combined for eight team blocks compared to Merrimack's one for the day.

Set 1: Pace 25, Merrimack 9
The Setters were dominant from the get-go in the opening frame, limiting Merrimack to just eight serves in the set. An 11-point run that put the Setters ahead 13-4 set the tone early, and the Warriors were unable to slow down the consistent Pace attack. Clarke led the team in the opener, posting five kills. Lecker and Calimpong-Burke each added another three. Senior Haley Kain (Huntersville, NC/William Amous Hough) led the Setters in assists in the frame, recording seven in the set. Lecker was the defensive leader with four digs.
 
Set 2: Pace 25, Merrimack 15
The two teams battled back and forth to open the second set, but a five-point run off the serve of Calimpong-Burke put the Setters up 9-4— a lead they would not surrender. It was another set where Pace was able to effectively cut off the opposing attack, as only three of Merrimack's 12 servers were able to avoid one-and-dones. The offense was a team effort, as five Setters each registered two kills in the set. Calimpong-Burke, Clarke, Lecker, Fontanet, and junior Kathleen Benson (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) all chipped into to the Blue and Gold offense. Nidini dished out seven of the Setters' 10 assists for the set, while Fontanet led the team in digs with eight.
 
Set 3: Pace 25, Merrimack 21
Showcasing resiliency, Merrimack refused to go quietly in the third set. The Warriors provided immediate comebacks to every lead Pace took, with the score drawing even ten separate times before leading to a 19-19 deadlock. Pace won back the serve to go up by one, and were able to pick up three straight points off the serve of Kain. The Warriors were able to win the ball back, but it was another senior Setter who was able to put the match away. Lecker recorded a kill to win the serve back for Pace, and served the final volley that ended with a block from Clarke and Calimpong-Burke.
 
Up Next:
The Blue and Gold will begin their final road trip of the season next week. Pace travels to Queens College on Tuesday, Nov. 7 for a 7 p.m. match.