NASHUA, NH -- The Regis College women's volleyball team was back in action this Saturday, November 8th to take on Rivier University in their regular season finale. The Pride would come up short in this one falling in three sets, bringing their record to 17-12 overall and 9-4 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

Grace Fabiano (Greenland, N.H.) made an impact on both ends of the court, leading the team with 11 kills and two blocks, while Alexandra Rivera (Bristol, Conn.) orchestrated the offense with 28 assists.

How it Happened

Rivier opened the set with a burst of energy, racing out to a 5–0 lead behind the serving of Lily Seibel, The Raiders kept their momentum rolling, getting key kills from Lydia Brakefield and Ali Rivera to stay in front 8–5. Regis began to settle in midway through the set, as Eva Catalanotto (Cheshire, Conn.) and Fabiano sparked the Pride's offense with several timely kills. Rivera distributed the ball effectively, helping Regis pull within a point at 13–12. Rivier capitalized on the late mistakes, using kills from Callie Nanos and Ali Rivera to push ahead 24–21. A final attack error by Fabiano sealed the set for the Raiders, 25–21.

The second set opened in a back-and-forth rhythm, with both teams trading early points through a series of service errors and quick kills. Avery Mola (Cheshire, Conn.) and Fabiano helped Regis find some early momentum, but Callie Nanos answered with consecutive service aces to give Rivier a narrow lead at 7–5. Regis continued to hang close, as Bella Karpicz (Berkley, Mass.) and Mola connected on kills from Rivera to keep the Pride within striking distance. However, Rivier's front row began to assert itself midway through the set—Savannah Dunne and Lydia Brakefield teamed up for back-to-back blocks that forced a Regis timeout at 14–10. Late in the set, Regis tried to mount a push behind Rivera's setting and Fabiano's late kills, but too many attack and service errors stalled the comeback attempt. A final Regis error sealed the frame as Rivier closed it out, 25–17, to take a two-set lead in the match.

The third set proved to be the most intense of the match, Regis started strong, jumping out to an early lead behind a pair of kills from Fabiano and Albers, forcing Rivier to burn a timeout trailing 10–4. The Pride looked sharp on both sides of the ball— Rivera ran a balanced offense, connecting with Catalanotto,  Karpicz, and Mola to keep the Raiders off balance. Late in the set, Rivier reached set point at 24–21, but Regis showed remarkable poise to fight back—three straight points capped by a Mola kill tied the frame at 24–24. Both sides had chances to close it out, trading points to 27–27, but a clutch kill from Brakefield gave Rivier the edge, and Driend sealed the set with a service ace to end a thrilling 29–27 finish.

Inside the Numbers

• This afternoon's decision moves the Pride to fifth overall in the standings - soldfying their spot in the postseason. 
• Nine of the Pride's 11 players who saw the floor this afternoon recorded at least one dig. 

Up Next

The Pride women's volleyball team head back to Rivier University this Tuesday, November 11 for the quarterfinals of the GNAC tournament.