PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – Pace University Volleyball hosted the Pace Tri-Match Saturday at Goldstein Fitness Center, taking both St. Thomas Aquinas College and Goldey-Beacom College to four sets. The Setters dropped both contests to move to 3-4 on the season.
Match One – St. Thomas Aquinas
STAC established the early advantage with consecutive 25-19 victories in the opening two sets. Pace answered in the third, putting together its best offensive set of the match with 14 kills and a .225 hitting percentage to earn a 25-22 victory and force a fourth set.
The Setters stayed within striking distance throughout the fourth, which featured six ties and three lead changes. Pace battled late before STAC closed out the match with a 25-23 decision.
Paola Ortiz paced the attack with 19 kills, while Ileann Alessandra Perez delivered nine kills on 16 swings with just one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Kadence Ackmann added eight kills and 14 digs, and Keelah Chambliss finished with six kills.
Aralyn Saulys directed the offense with 37 assists and four service aces while adding 14 digs. Alice Bender anchored the back row with a team-high 21 digs.
Match Two – Goldey-Beacom
The Setters closed the afternoon with another back-and-forth four-set battle. Goldey-Beacom grabbed the opening set 25-22 before Pace responded in the second, fighting its way to a 25-23 victory to even the match.
After the Lightning took the third 25-20, the teams traded momentum throughout a tightly contested fourth set that featured nine ties and seven lead changes. Pace produced a match-high 17 kills and hit .245 in the frame, but Goldey-Beacom pulled out a 25-23 victory to secure the match.
Ortiz turned in another strong offensive performance with 20 kills and 14 digs for a double-double. Chambliss contributed 13 kills, while Alessandra Perez added eight kills and hit .300. Maggie Hamed chipped in eight kills and 17 digs.
Saulys handed out 43 assists while recording 17 digs and four aces, and Bender once again led the Setters defensively with 21 digs. Pace finished the match with 54 kills, 49 assists, nine aces and 81 digs.
Across the two matches, Ortiz totaled 39 kills, while Saulys combined for 80 assists, 31 digs and eight service aces.
The Setters remain home Tuesday, Sept. 15, to host West Chester University at Goldstein Fitness Center at 6:00 p.m.
