PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – With two sets extending beyond 25 points and little separation throughout the night, the Setters found the answers when they needed them Tuesday inside Goldstein Fitness Center. Pace University Volleyball captured a 3-1 Northeast 10 Conference victory over Assumption University, winning the second set 29-27 and closing out a back-and-forth fourth set 26-24 to improve to 7-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
The Setters established control with a 25-18 victory in the opening set, recording 10 kills against four errors while holding Assumption to a .143 hitting percentage.
The second set developed into the most competitive frame of the night. Nine ties and five lead changes highlighted the battle, with neither side able to create much separation. Pace eventually broke through for the final two points to take the marathon set, 29-27, and build a 2-0 advantage in the match.
Assumption responded in the third, taking the set 25-17 to extend the night.
Pace regrouped in the fourth and delivered its strongest offensive stretch since the opening frame. The Setters totaled 13 kills with only five errors in the set, hitting .190 as the teams again went down to the wire. With the score tied late, Pace secured the final two points for the 26-24 victory and closed out the match in four sets.
Kadence Ackmann led the Setters with 12 kills and added 16 digs for a double-double. Jaliyah Johnson finished with seven kills, while Emily Cineus and Paola Ortiz supplied six apiece. Maggie Hamed added five kills in two sets.
Aralyn Saulys directed the offense with 25 assists and 11 digs, while Camila Rodriguez contributed 13 assists, 12 digs and two service aces. Alice Bender anchored the back row with a team-high 19 digs as Pace finished with 82 as a team.
The Setters also created pressure from the service line with nine aces. Ortiz led the way with three, while Rodriguez added two. Pace finished the night with 46 kills, 42 assists and 15 total blocks.
The Setters return to action Saturday, Oct. 10, when they travel to Waltham, Mass., to face Bentley University in Northeast 10 Conference play at 1:00 p.m.
