Regis Sweeps Women's Volleyball 3-0

NEWTON, Mass. (10/26/15) – The Lasell College women's volleyball team fell to Regis College 3-0 by set scores of 25-23, 26-24, and 25-21 in a non-conference battle on Monday evening in the Athletic Center Gym. With the setback the Lasers shift to 10-20 overall while the Pride advance to 18-10.

Freshman Olivia Addington (Orange, Calif.) – earlier named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week - paced the Lasers with seven kills and 14 digs. Seniors Heather Longley (North Granby, Conn.) and Sharisse Scott-Rawlins (Brockton, Mass.) followed with six kills apiece, while Longley jumped up for four blocks. Sophomore Caitlyn Garcia (Moreno Valley, Calif.) held down the Lasell defense in the libero spot with 15 digs, while sophomore Taylor Tiezzi (Meriden, Conn.) dished out 14 assists. 

For the Pride, sophomore Sydney Trusty (Durham, Conn.) led with eight kills for a combined 8.5 points, while sophomore Haley Schulte (Fullerton, Calif.) registered seven kills, 10 digs, and 14 assists. Sophomore Nicole Connolly (San Mateo, Calif.) hit the floor for 15 digs followed by sophomore Shay Faber (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) who helped out with 14 digs. 

The Pride jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the opening set, highlighted by three straight points with sophomore Crystina Lathrop (Houston, Texas) on the serve. The Lasers slowly chipped away at the lead before Longley jumped up for a block solo for the equalizer point, 14-14. The Lasers survived three additional ties before an attack error of their own put Regis in victory position, forcing a Lasell timeout. Longley and freshman Odina Ellis (Providence, R.I.) denied the visitors to yet again tie the set 23-23, however a service error on the hosts and a kill from sophomore Graciella Molinari (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) sealed the deal for Regis 25-23. 

Lasell bounced back for the opening plays of set two, as Tiezzi held service for four straight points, capped by a service ace. The advantage wouldn't stay as such for long, as freshman Carolina Fuentes (Downey, Calif.) got into the game and smashed a service ace that began a 5-0 run to tie the set at 5-5. The slight margin of points would hold until Connolly caught Lasell off guard with a service ace for a 23-21 bump. The Lasers would not go quietly as sophomore Meredith Egan (North Andover, Mass.) sent a serve just over the net for the 23-23 equalizer point, however two final errors on Lasell's end put the Pride in match-winning position, as they took set two 26-24.

Lathrop resumed the service zone and led the Pride to a 5-1 lead in the final set before Tiezzi fired back for an eventual 5-5 comeback. The set would deadlock three more times before Faber held serve for four straight points – highlighted by a service ace and a pair of Trusty kills. Up 24-17 via a point from freshman MacKenzie Emco (Sutton, Mass.), the Pride stood still as Lasell attempted a late-set comeback. Sophomore Michele Canestro (Castleton, N.Y.) rallied for two service aces that would put the Lasers within a three-point reach, however a kill from Trusty gave the visitors the final 25-21 set victory.

Both teams return to the court on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. The Lasers will host Brandeis University for a local non-conference tilt while the Pride honor their graduating seniors in a home conference matchup with Lesley University.