RINDGE, N.H. – In a seesaw battle on Saturday afternoon, Pace University Volleyball went the distance on the road, ultimately falling in five sets to Franklin Pierce University (18-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 12-15). The Setters, who now stand at 8-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play, traded momentum throughout a back-and-forth match that featured 34 tie scores and 16 lead changes.

The opening frame saw the host Ravens take control late, using a 6-1 run to edge ahead 25-18. Pace quickly found its rhythm in the second set, as a balanced attack powered the Setters to a 25-19 win to even the match at one. Freshman outside hitter Kadence Ackmann and senior right-side hitter Cyanna Shirley combined for six kills in the frame, while setter Aralyn Saulys helped direct the offense with precise distribution.

The middle portion of the match remained a tug-of-war. Despite trailing by as many as six in the third, Pace clawed back behind the steady play of Skyler Tennant and Ileann Alessandra Perez, who each connected on efficient swings to bring the Setters within reach.

Franklin Pierce held on for the 25-22 win, but Pace refused to go away quietly. The Blue and Gold answered in the fourth, hitting an even .200 as Shirley, Tennant, and Emily Cineus each came through with key kills to take the set 25-22 and force a decisive fifth. In a thrilling finish, both teams exchanged points deep into the final frame before the Ravens narrowly prevailed, 15-12.

Shirley and Tennant led the Setters' offense with 10 kills apiece, while Ackmann followed with eight kills and a team-high five service aces.

Saulys orchestrated the attack with 21 assists and 10 digs, while freshman Camila Rodriguez added 17 assists and five aces of her own.

Defensively, libero Alice Bender anchored the back row with 17 digs, and Tennant recorded 14.

The Setters return to action on Tuesday, when they travel to Worcester, MA., to face Assumption University in another NE10 matchup at 7:00 p.m.