CALDWELL, N.J. – The Caldwell College volleyball team won a non-conference match with Pace University, 26-24, 25-14, 25-20 in the Cougars' home opener Tuesday night in the George R. Newman Center. The win gives Caldwell a 3-2 record on the season, while the Setters fall to 2-3.

The match featured two teams who qualified for last season's NCAA Division II East Region Tournament. The first set was tight and competitive, with neither team leading by more than four points. With the score tied at 24-24, senior right side Amber Mosher (Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive) delivered a kill for the lead, and a Pace hitting error gave Caldwell the win. In the second set, the Cougars dominated with 16 kills and a .483 hitting percentage en route to a 25-14 victory. Senior outside hitter Susan McDonough (Saline, MI/Saline) led the way with five kills in the set.

Caldwell led for most of the way in the third set, only to have Pace pull even at 20-20. Following a Setters service error, kills by McDonough and Mosher sandwiched around an ace from sophomore Athena Nestoras (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) set up match point. The final point came on a ball handling error, giving Caldwell an important in-region victory.

McDonough led all players with 12 kills to go with 11 digs for her third double-double of the season. Mosher had 11 kills while hitting .444, and freshman outside hitter Annyssa Herlihy (Springfield, NJ/Union Catholic) recorded nine kills. Junior setter Lisa Roth (Gilbert, AZ/Williams Field) and Nestoras kept the offense rolling with 18 and 15 assists, respectively, while sophomore libero Jaclyn Del Cid (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) paced the defense with 18 digs. Nora Rugova and Gabrielle Harris each had seven kills for Pace.

The Cougars play a tri-match at Dowling College on Friday, Sept. 7, facing NYIT at 12:00 p.m. and the host Lions at 2:00 p.m.

CC (3) - 26 25 25
PU (0) - 24 14 20