Lasell Women’s Volleyball rallies to defeat Regis

WESTON, Mass. – Freshman Kiana Perez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) slammed 24 kills, including a 5-for-7 performance in the deciding set, as the Lasell College women's volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit on the way to a 3-2 victory (20-25, 15-25, 26-24, 25-16, 15-9) over Regis College Wednesday night in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's volleyball match at Higgins Court.

Perez also collected 12 digs for her second straight double-double and fourth of the season. Senior Olivia Addington (Orange, Calif.) also earned a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs, freshman Meghan Roberts (Newington, Conn.) earned 11 kills of her own, classmate Jess Langan (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) dished out 41 assists, and Laser libero Allie Jo Amos (Prescott, Ariz.) led all players with 27 defensive digs.

Regis was led by Katrina Veasey (Quincy, Mass.), who recorded her 675th career kill to become Regis's all-time kills leader. Veasey finished with 16 kills and 19 digs for her sixth double-double of the season, while setter Mica van der Meulen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) notched her second double-double in as many matches with 22 assists and 11 digs. MacKenzie Emco (Sutton, Mass.) finished with nine kills and five total blocks, Julia Pelland (Brockton, Mass.) led the Pride with five service aces, and Caroline Fuentes (Downey, Calif.) also collected 19 digs for Regis.

In the opening set, Regis scored five straight points, led by Veasey with a kill and two service aces, before Lasell answered with four unanswered points. The Pride responded with seven straight points, led by Emco with three kills and a block assist, to open a 17-9 advantage, and then the home team closed out the first set with a kill by Erin Gallagher (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and a Lasell attack error.

Regis scored the first three points of the second set on a kill by Gallagher and two kills from Veasey, and then the Pride went on an 8-1 scoring run later in the set to open a 20-7 lead. After Lasell scored the next four points, Regis brought its lead back into double digits, clinching the set on a Laser attack error to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was close, with neither team able to open more than a three-point advantage. Down 23-20, the Lasers scored three straight points to tie the set, but a kill by Veasey led to the Pride serving for the match. Lasell held off the Pride on a kill by Roberts, and then consecutive kills by Perez ended the set in the Lasers' favor and extended the match.

Regis opened an 11-8 lead in the fourth set on a kill by Emco, but Lasell responded with an 11-3 scoring run, led by three kills from Perez as well as a solo block by Roberts. The Lasers would win the final five points of the set thanks to kills by Roberts and Perez as well as two service aces from sophomore Alysha Rentas (Athol, Mass.), tying the match and forcing a deciding fifth set.

The Lasers fell behind 4-3 early in the fifth set, but then went on an 8-1 scoring run, led by Roberts with two blocks and a kill, to pull ahead, 11-5. The Pride closed to within four on kills by Emco and Lauren Butt (Topsfield, Mass.) before the Lasers finished off the set and the match on consecutive kills by Perez.

Lasell (5-12, 3-2 GNAC) plays another GNAC match on Saturday at the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) at noon. Regis (8-5, 1-2 GNAC) will look to bounce back Saturday as the Pride hosts a tri-match against Simmons and nationally ranked Johnson & Wales.

(Courtesy of Regis Sports Information)

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