Women’s Volleyball Outlasts Regis in Five-Set Thriller

QUINCY, Mass.- In the first match played on the newly-redesigned court of the Lahue Athletic Center, the Eastern Nazarene College women's volleyball team bested Regis 3-2 in the opening match of the 2021 ENC Invitational presented by Tony's House of Pizza Friday.

The Lions snap a five-match skid and improve to 2-5 on the year while the Pride falls to 0-3 overall with the result.

Eliana Baran (Beaumont, Calif.) racked up a match-high 21 kills to go with 18 digs. Emma Graves (Berkshire, N.Y.) tallied 18 kills and six total blocks on the night. Telma Zelaya (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) filled up the stat sheet with 43 assists, 22 digs, eight kills, two aces, and two blocks. Jessica Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) chipped in with eight kills and 15 digs. Defensivley, Amya Altman (Butler, Pa.) collected 20 digs and Fiona Shaw (Whitinsville, Mass.) notched a career-high 11 digs.

The visitors posted a 25-17 win in the opening set to snag a 1-0 edge.

The home side responded with a 25-20 victory in the second frame to level the match at 1-1.

Regis reclaimed a one-set lead, 2-1, with a 25-20 decision in the third.

Eastern Nazarene roared back with a 25-16 win in the fourth game to push the match to a deciding fifth set.

The Lions edged the Pride 15-11 in the fifth frame to claim their second victory of the season.

Rita Dow paced Regis with 14 kills while Valerie Whalen added 13 kills. Karly Sanborn registered 34 assists and 16 digs on the evening.

Up next, Eastern Nazarene will face Husson and Colby-Sawyer on day two of the 2021 ENC Invitational hosted by Tony's House of Pizza September 11.