NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College volleyball team rallied from a one set deficit to defeat the Mitchell College Mariners, 3-2 in a five-set thriller in The Nest during a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest.

Majo Pelaez (Armenia, Colombia) had 10 kills and an ace. Jazmine Taboas Negron (San Juan, Puerto Rico) had nine kills and eight digs. Alyssa Valentine (Bristol, Conn.) had 19 assists and eight digs. Alexys Signor (North Haven, Conn.) had a team-high 17 digs. 

THE BASICS

FINAL: Albertus 3 | Mitchell 2

SET 1: Albertus 25 | Mitchell 18

SET 2: Mitchell 25 | Albertus 13

SET 3: Mitchell 25 | Albertus 20

SET 4: Albertus 25 | Mitchell 22

SET 5: Albertus 15 | Mitchell 13

BOX

RECORDS: Albertus (9-9, 2-3 GNAC) | Mitchell (7-7, 1-5 GNAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After conceding the first two points, the Falcons scored six of the next seven, taking a 6-3 behind two aces from Alondra Acosta (Guayama, Puerto Rico) and a kill from Paula Matheus (Boyaca, Colombia). After Mitchell tied the game, 6-6, the Falcons scored the next six, including a kill from Negron and an ace from Valentine. With the set 14-9, the Falcons scored four straight including a kill and ace by Sophie Cseszko (Grapevine, TX) and kills from Nyanna Richards (Bridgeport, Conn.) and Matheus. Albertus led by as much as eight points and closed out the set with two kills from Richards over the last three points.
• Mitchell took an 11-4 lead to open up the second set, including two kills from Cimber Jenkins and aces from Genna Hyde and Zoa Trammel. Albertus got to within six at 18-12 after a kill from Emma Fallon and an ace from Matheus, but the Mariners scored seven of the last eight points to take the set and tie the match, 1-1.
• Albertus scored the first four points of the third set as Valentine notched another ace along with a kill from Fallon. The set was tied, 11-11, the Mariners scored the next five as Kiersten Veenstra and Hyde had kills to make it a 16-11 game. The Falcons rallied to take a 20-19 game as Yarieshka Sierra (Hartford, Conn.) had three aces to fuel the run. However, Mitchell scored the last six points, including two aces from Jenna Blankenship.
• Albertus took a 3-0 lead early in set four, but soon after the teams would tie 12 times during the set, the last time coming at 17-17 after a kill from Pelaez. Three straight errors by Mitchell gave Albertus a three-point lead and Gordon's kill made it a 21-17 set. The Mariners cut the Albertus lead to 24-22 but a kill from Fallon sent the match to a decisive fifth set.
• The Falcons jumped out to an 8-2 lead behind kills from Pelaez, Negron, Fallon and Cseszko. The Mariners came back, tying it 11-11. Albertus had set point after two straight emphatic kills from Pelaez and an ace by Signor. Mitchell scored the next two, but Pelaez drove home the final point on with a kill off a pass from Gordon to give Albertus the thrilling win.

LEADERS

Albertus

Majo Pelaez - 10 Kills

Alyssa Valentine - 19 Assists

Yarieshka Sierra - 3 Aces

Alexys Signor - 17 Digs

Emma Fallon and Sophie Cseszko - 2 Blocks

Mitchell

Molly Wordell - 13 Kills

Kiersten Veenstra - 19 Assists

Genna Hyde - 4 Aces

Julia Lent - 19 Digs

Genna Hyde and Miranda Hamilton - 1 Block

NOTEWORTHY

It's the third straight match between Albertus and Mitchell went to five sets.

UP NEXT

The Falcons host Lesley on Wednesday, October 15th at 7 p.m.