Johnston was a crucial part to Pine Manor’s game one win. With repeated attacks to the Pride defense, Johnston and teammate Jennifer Gross (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) lifted the team to its first win of the night.

Regis found its rhythm from the slow game one start, and struck the Gator defense with vigor. Meghan McCarty (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial) and Randi Garrity (Reading, Mass./Reading) were a force offensively for Regis. Joining the mix was Sara Gold (North Hollywood, Calif./Notre Dame), who lit a spark defensively for the Pride.

Both side capitalized on the others mistakes, and with that raised its point separation. In games three and four the two teams reversed roles, each surging as the points neared 25. In game three Regis would rally off Megan Pratt (Rockland, Mass./Rockland) attacks to the Gator defense. Assisting her was Garrity, while Gold kept the flow going defensively.

It was just the opposite in game four. Johnston was a dominating force as tying the match at 2-2 neared 25. Setting her would be Megan Patch (Bethpage, Tenn./Red Boiling Springs), and Berlineda Piere (Malden, Mass./Malden) joined to attack the Pride defense.

With both teams knotted at two games each, Regis opened up an early lead in game five, and was determined not to relinquish its advantage. Johnston and the Gators nipped at Regis’ heels, but freshman Vanessa Noesi (Methuen, Mass./Greater Lawrence Tech) had other intentions.

Regis would score three of its last five points on blocks, two attributed to Noesi. The third would be a kill by Julie Endara (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton), and the two others were errors committed by Pine Manor.

Regis College will continue its season when it takes the court in a tri-match versus Lesley and Norwich on Saturday (Sept. 11). Pine Manor will travel to Mass Maritime on September 13.