MANCHESTER, N.H. (Sept. 7, 2018) – Despite double-doubles from sophomore Leilani Vazquez (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Adelphi University) and freshman Sophia Flanders (Hamden, Conn./Hamden), the Mercy College volleyball team suffered a 3-0 (18-25, 15-25, 22-25) setback to Pace University on Friday night at Saint Anselm College.

The Mavericks (2-5) have dropped four matches in a row, while the Setters (5-1) have won three matches in a row.

Vazquez produced a match-high 12 kills and had 15 digs and Flanders dished out 32 assists with 14 digs. Senior Neysha Gonzalez (Aguadilla, Puerto Rico/Monroe College) had a match-high 17 digs and sophomore Adriana Lopez-Soto (Gurabo, Puerto Rico/Notre Dame HS) had 12 digs.

Pace was led by Tatjana Calimpong-Burke who had a team-high 11 kills and 16 digs.

Mercy opened the first set with the first two points on a Ciara Rosado (Throggs Neck, N.Y./DeSales University) ace and a Sarah Watson (Maple Creek, Saskatchewan/Maple Creek) kill. The Setters rebounded to take a 9-6 lead later in the set. The Mavericks answered with two points in a row to make it 9-8 before Pace rattled off five straight points to build a 14-8 advantage. The Setters would hold the lead the rest of the way in taking the first set, 25-18.

Pace started the second set with a 21-9 lead and took a 2-0 lead in the match after winning the set, 25-15.

The final set saw the Mavericks come out strong taking a 13-11 lead, forcing a Pace timeout. Out of the timeout, the Setters responded by taking the lead with three straight points. A kill from Vazquez made it 14-14 and the teams would trade points with the score being tied at 18-18 after a Watson kill. Pace came back with two unanswered points to build a two-point lead, 21-19. Mercy continued to battle and cut the deficit to one, 22-21, after another Vazquez kill. However, Pace ended the set and match by scoring three of the next four points.

Mercy hit .170 with 38 kills and 67 digs, while Pace hit .279 with 50 kills and 58 digs.

Head Coach Georgia Efthalitsides and the Mavericks resume action tomorrow when they take on Edinboro and Saint Anselm at Saint Anselm College starting at 12:15 p.m.