RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Beginning a stretch of eight-consecutive road matches, the Pace University volleyball team registered wins over Felician University and Mercy College on Sunday afternoon in New Jersey. The Setters now sit with a 13-3 record this fall, marking the program's best start to a season since 1996 (17-2).

Match One: Pace 3, Felician 0 (25-14, 26-24, 25-19)
The Setters picked up their sixth sweep of the season in the day's opener against Felician. Junior Samantha Nidini (Houston, TX/Clearlake) led the offense with nine kills, while classmate Tatjana Calimpong-Burke (Waianae, HI/Iolani) added eight of her own.

Four other Setters picked up at least five kills in the match, including Sandra Yang (Bothell, WA/Edmonds-Woodway), Mackenzie Byrne (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa), Christal Wong (Elk Grove, CA/Cosumnes Oaks), and Hildur Davidsdottir (Mosfellsbaer, Iceland/). Freshman Katy Motz (Cedar Park, TX/Cedar Park) led Pace with 17 assists while classmate Emily Cockell (Springfield, MO/Kickapoo) tallied a team-high 16 digs.

The Setters put together 12 service aces in the match, their highest total since the opening match of the season against Dominican (17). Junior Danielle Vaiano (Seaford, NY/St. Anthony's) notched five of those aces, and now ranks third in the NE10 in aces per set (0.52).

Match Two: Pace 3, Mercy 1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-17)
The Blue and Gold's momentum continued into the second contest as they defeated Mercy for a third time this season. After dropping the first set, Pace rattled off three in a row to clinch the victory.

Senior Claudia Fontanet (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) was the Setters' kill leader versus the Mavericks, posting 11 of them across four sets. She also added seven digs. Calimpong-Burke joined Fontanet in double-figures with 10 kills, while also chipping in a team-best 16 digs (seventh double-double of the season). Nidini (eight kills), Yang (eight kills) and Kathleen Benson (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) (nine kills) were also strong performers on offense.

Nidini and Motz shared the passing duties, totaling 45 assists between the two of them. Nidini has eclipsed the 20-assist mark on eight occasions this season.

Defensively, the Blue and Gold combined for seven total blocks with a team-high four assists coming from Davidsdottir.

Up Next
The Setters head back into NE10 action during the mid-week, traveling to face Assumption College on Wednesday night (7 p.m.)