Women's Volleyball Falters on the Road at Regis Tuesday

• USJ and Regis traded points in the opening portion of the first set, playing out a 4-4 tie. After the Blue Jays took a 5-4 lead after a Regis error, the Pride utilized a 7-1 stretch to break open an 11-6 gap. 

• The Blue Jays quickly responded as kills by senior Shannon Carey (Bayport, N.Y.) and an ace from senior Natalia Rabassa (Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico) brought USJ back within three, 11-8. 

• After Regis jumped back out to a four-point edge, USJ used a 4-0 stretch, fueled by two kills by junior Victoria Adler (Berlin, Conn.), to level the first set at 13-13. The Blue Jays kept their foot on the gas, taking a 16-15 lead after a kill from senior Hannah Benson (Terryville, Conn.) and an Adler ace forced a Pride timeout. 

• USJ and Regis continued to battle back-and-forth before Adler came up clutch for the Blue Jays, notching a kill and an ace to put USJ within one point of taking the set, 24-23, and forcing another Regis timeout. However, Regis would score four of the next five points, taking the opening set, 27-25. 

• The Pride came out the gates strong in the second set, jumping out to an 8-1 lead, forcing a USJ timeout. Benson would snap Regis's momentum coming out of the break, immediately securing a kill. However, Regis would jump back out to a 12-4 edge. 

• The Blue Jays would continue to fight back as a 6-1 stretch, featuring two kills by Carey pulled USJ within three, 13-10. The Blue Jays would eventually get within two, 15-13, following a kill by junior Victoria Isokpehi (Lagos, Nigeria), but the Pride reopened a four-point advantage, 19-15, before going on to win the second set, 25-21. 

• Regis jumped out early in the third set, taking a 5-1 lead. The Blue Jays fought back, cutting the gap to two, 8-6, after senior Sarah Haire (Vernon, Conn.) tallied a kill. 

• However, the Pride continued to roll, extending their lead to as great as 10, 20-10. The Blue Jays looked to fight back late, as Rabassa notched three aces to pace a 5-0 USJ run, cutting the deficit to 24-18, but Regis secured the decisive point, taking the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-0. 

NOTES 

• Carey paced the USJ offense with 10 kills. 

• Rabassa lead the defense with 14 digs, while Benson recorded 12 digs. The match marked the 10th consecutive match that Rabassa has reached double digits in digs. 

• Rabassa was also a menace at the service line, tallying five service aces. 

• Senior Nicole Albert (Meriden, Conn.) was the primary playmaker, dishing out 12 assists. 

• Regis extended their winning streak to three matches over USJ. The Pride also increased their edge in the all-time series to 5-3. 

UP NEXT