BOSTON – Emmanuel's run in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's volleyball playoffs came to an end on Thursday night, as the top-seeded Saints fell to the No. 5 seed Regis Pride, 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21) in the GNAC Semifinals from Andy Yosinoff Court. Emmanuel's loss ends a program record 23-match winning streak as they returned to the conference semifinals for the first time in 10 years.
In the opening set, Emmanuel made the most of their opportunities late in the frame, as the two sides battled to a 18-18 tie. After the Pride claimed the next two points, Emmanuel closed out the set on a 7-1 surge, capped off by a kill for senior Isabella Marquez, as the Saints won the opening frame, 25-21.
Regis fought back strongly in the second set, combining for 15 team kills, while hitting .235 on the way to evening the match. Following a 5-5 start, Regis pushed away by winning nine of the next 11 points, taking a 14-7 lead. Emmanuel could only get as close as four in the final points, as the Pride claimed the second, 25-17.
The visitors' efficiency in the third helped the Pride to a 2-1 lead. Hitting a match-best .289 in the set, with 13 kills on 38 attempts with two errors, Regis claimed the frame 25-18. Another close set was broken open with the help of a 7-1 run, which lifted the Pride to a 17-10 lead. Similar to the second, the Saints could only get as close as four, as the Pride took the set, 25-18.
One final run, this time coming in the fourth set, would ultimately close the door on the Saints, as the Pride finished off the match. After a 6-1 run early got the Saints back within striking distance, the Pride strung together four straight points, boosting their lead to 17-12. The two sides traded nearly every point from then on, leaving Emmanuel without an opportunity. Pride junior Avery Mola finished off the match on the Pride's second match point, as Regis claimed a 25-21 set win.
First-year Eva Catalanotto finished with a match-high 16 kills, hitting .429 from the floor, to go along with seven total blocks. Junior Grace Fabiano added 12 kills on .310 from the floor while, Mola chipped in with 11 kills and 11 digs.
Marquez led the home team with 15 kills to go along with three digs. Sophomores Letitia Bossou and Julia Haight added eight kills each, while Haight contributed 10 digs and three aces.
The Pride advance to the GNAC Championship, where they will take on the two-time defending champions and No. 2 seed, Lasell Lasers, on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1:30 p.m.
For the Saints, their season sits at 28-2 for the best season in terms of winning percentage in program history. An at-large selection looms as Emmanuel awaits their fate in the NCAA Power Index (NPI) rankings update. Entering the night, the Saints were ranked 37th in Division III. Last season, the 38th-ranked team in the NPI received the final at-large bid.
