BEVERLY, Mass. – In a match with 37 ties (14-7-8-2-6) and 15 lead changes (2-4-5-2-2), highlighted by the fifth set with six ties and two lead changes, the Regis College men's volleyball team clinched a 3-2 victory, with scores of 25-22, 17-25, 26-24, 21-25, and 15-12 over Endicott College on Wednesday night at MacDonald Gymnasium.
Brandon Vales (Miami, Fla.) paced the Pride with 19 kills, while Adam Bonica (Quincy, Mass.) coined 14 kills, and 16 digs, with Jay Bodhidatta (Bangkok, Thailand.) earning 20 digs for the Pride. Tyrell Bucasas (Waialua, Hawaii) finished with 47 assists and four digs for the Pride.
Regis 3, Endicott 2: (25-22, 17-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-12)
After breaking the 19 point tie in its opening set due to a service error from the Gulls, Regis extended its lead to clinch the first set with a 25-22 victory thanks to kills from Valdes and John Nangle (Lowell, Mass.) followed by multiple errors from Endicott.
Endicott opened the second set with a close 10-8 lead, however the Pride earned four consecutive points to then take the lead at 12-10. After leading 15-13, Endicott increased its offensive output finishing the second set with a 24-17 win.
The Gulls collected the first five points of the third set, just before the Pride was able to bounce back and increase its offense to tie the set at 11 points. Both teams would remain within two points of each other until a service error tied the Gulls with the Pride at 23 points. Regis completed the third set, leading 26-23.
Despite opening with a 4-1 lead, Endicott caught up to the Pride to later tie at seven points, while earning three additional points to lead by three. Both teams responded with a kill and service error each to fall within four points of one another. Endicott held the lead for the remainder of the set to finish with a five-point advantage, at 25-20.
The Pride opened the fifth and final set with a 7-6 lead just before a kill from Jackson Gray would clean the slate at seven points. Endicott continued to add three points to its total, before a 5-2 run from the Pride would tie the match at 12 points. Regis was persistent with its offense, to later score the remaining three points, clinching a 15-12 set victory over Endicott, and a 3-2 victory overall.
Regis (3-3, 0-1 GNAC) is set to host SUNY Potsdam on Friday, Jan. 31, at 6:00 p.m. Endicott (1-6, 0-0 NEVC) is scheduled to travel to face Emerson College on Tuesday, Feb. 4, with a 7:00 p.m. start.