PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Regis College won two of the first three sets, but Johnson and Wales University rallied from behind to defeat the Pride, 3-2 (14-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-16, 18-16), Friday night in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup at the Wildcat Center.
Avery Mola (Cheshire, Conn.) led the Pride with 14 kills, two assists, and 19 digs. Kamdyn Tenorio (Irvine, Calif.) finished with 16 digs, while Bella Karpicz (Berkley, Mass.) finished with seven block assists.
Regis scored the first six points of the match, but Johnson and Wales quickly responded to close the deficit 6-4. The Pride put together a 10-2 scoring run to open a 10-point advantage, followed by a 9-8 scoring run to close out the opening set.
The Wildcats took a 10-5 lead early in the second set before the Pride earned two consecutive points with a kill from Ayla Albers (San Diego, Calif.) while also advancing on an attack error from the Wildcats. After multiple service errors from the Wildcats, the Pride made a comeback in the second set, tying at 22 points. Both teams went point for point until kill from Albers set the Pride ahead to finish the second set, 26-24.
Both teams went point for point until Johnson and Wales broke through going on a 6-2 scoring run to clinch the lead and remain ahead throughout the set. The Pride went on a 5-1 scoring run to close the gap by two points but could not pull ahead before a kill from Finleigh Benkwitt, to finish the third set, 25-22.
After opening up the fourth set with a 4-1 scoring run, Johnson and Wales pulled ahead with three straight points to tie the set at four points. The Wildcats eventually opened a six-point advantage at 14-8 to clinch the lead. The Pride closed to within four points on consecutive service errors from the Wildcats, but could not pull ahead, as the Wildcats kept pressure to finish the fourth set 25-16.
The Pride started the fifth set leading 5-1 with two service aces and three attack errors on the Wildcats. As the Wildcats crept within one point, the Pride earned two kills by Albers and Mola to lead 7-4. Johnson and Wales went on a 10-7 scoring run to tie the set at 14 points. Grace Fabiano (Greenland, N.H.) increased the Pride lead with a kill just before Peyton Oliver matched the momentum. The Wildcats ultimately took the lead with two consecutive kills to finish the final set 18-16.
Oliver finished with 15 kills for the Wildcats, while Nevaeh Arnold finished with 26 assists. Sierra Nausieda led the Wildcats with 25 digs, followed by Skylar Winchester with 13.
Regis College (14-6, 6-2 GNAC) heads to Boston, Mass., for a tri-match Saturday, Oct. 19, first facing Simmons at 11:00 a.m. before facing Mitchell at 1:00 p.m.
