NASHUA, N.H. – The Albertus Magnus College volleyball team lost both of its Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opening matches to Lasell and Rivier, each by a score of 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in a tri-match.

THE BASICS

MATCH 1: Lasell 3 | Albertus Magnus 0

MATCH 2: Rivier 3 | Albertus 0

MATCH 1 vs. Lasell

SET 1: Lasell 25 | Albertus 18

SET 2: Lasell 25 | Albertus 14

SET 3: Lasell 25 | Albertus 13

RECORDS: Albertus (4-5, 0-1 GNAC) | Lasell (8-3, 2-0 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Albertus dropped the first two points of the first set, but bounced back to take an early 6-5 lead after kills from Emma Fallon (Harwinton, Conn.) and Majo Pelaez (Armenia, Colombia) and an ace from Alexys Signor (North Haven, Conn.). Lasell took the lead back after three straight points of its own, but Albertus was able to keep the set within three points over the next 15 points with two kills from Paula Matheus (Tunja-Boyaca, Colombia) and one from Nathalie Wallace (Rocky Hill, Conn.). With the Lasers leading 15-13, they scored four straight points as Trinity Silva had two aces and a kill to make it a 19-13 set.  Albertus closed to within five points one more time, but Lasell put the set away to take the 1-0 lead in the match. Matheus had three kills in the set.
• After Albertus took the first point of set two, the Lasers jumped out to a 12-4 lead behind two kills from Camila Lopez and two from Madalyn Scully. Albertus crept back to 14-9 that included kills from Pelaez and Shalese Gordon (Bridgeport, Conn.), but Lasell scored the next seven to take a 21-9 lead. Pelaez finished with four kills in the set, while Gordon had four assists.
• The Falcons took a 4-1 lead to kick off the third set taking advantage of three Lasell errors early on. The Lasers tied the set at 6-6, and the Falcons briefly took the lead back at 7-6 on a ball handling error. Lasell took the lead for good on two straight errors by the Falcons, which started a 6-1 run to put Lasell up 12-8. The Falcons got back to within three on a service error by Lasell, but the Lasers closed on a 12-5 run to take the match.

LEADERS

Albertus

Majo Pelaez – 7 Kills

Shalese Gordon – 13 Assists

Alexys Signor – 1 Ace

Amanda Zdru – 8 Digs

Nathalie Wallace – 1 Block

Lasell

Andrea Aceituni – 10 Kills

Sydney Katz – 25 Assists

Sydney Katz – 9 Digs

Sydney Katz – 5 Aces

Trinity Silva and Shantte Siliezar – 1 Block

MATCH 2 vs. Rivier

SET 1: Rivier 25 | Albertus 20

SET 2: Rivier 25 | Albertus 12

SET 3: Rivier 25 | Albertus 19

RECORDS: Albertus (4-6, 0-2 GNAC) | Rivier (6-6, 3-1 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set was a back-and-forth affair early on as the set featured six ties and four lead changes. Albertus trailed 7-4 early on but went on an 8-2 run to take a 12-9 lead as the Raiders had seven errors during the run. However, Rivier scored the next eight points that included two aces and two kills from Sam Driend. On three occasions, Albertus got back to within two, the final time at 21-19, but the Raiders scored four of the last five points to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Pelaez had two kills and an ace during the set.
• The second set was all Rivier, as it jumped out to a 13-2 lead as Albertus didn't get any closer than nine the rest of the way in the set as the Raiders took a 2-0 lead in the match. Ali Rivera finished the set with two aces and two kills in the set for Rivier. Matheus had a block and an ace for Albertus in the second frame.
• The Falcons rallied from an early 4-1 deficit to take a 10-8 lead behind a kill from Wallace and Pelaez and an ace from Da'Veona Parker (New Haven, Conn.). A 7-1 run from the Raiders gave them the lead back at 15-11, but Albertus followed with four straight points which included a block from Wallace and Fallon. Rivera's kill and ace helped give Rivier the 18-15 lead. Albertus got back to within one at 18-17 after a kill from Pelaez, but a 7-2 run from Rivier closed out the match. Pelaez had three kills in the set.

LEADERS

Albertus

Majo Pelaez – 6 Kills

Shalese Gordon – 9 Assists

Amanda Zdru – 15 Digs

Majo Pelaez – 2 Aces

Paula Matheus – 5 Blocks

Rivier

Ali Rivera – 8 Kills

Ryan Hicks – 14 Assists

Hannah Raab – 14 Digs

Ali Rivera and Hannah Raab – 4 Aces

Brynn Roche – 2 Blocks

NOTEWORTHY

• The five blocks from Matheus were a career high.

UP NEXT

The Falcons come back to the nest to host Vermont State Lyndon on Wednesday, September 25 at 7 p.m.