RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Mercy College emerged victorious in a deciding set to claim a 3-2 (25-15, 15-25, 23-25, 25-18, 15-5) non-conference women's volleyball victory over Felician University to end a tri-match hosted by the Golden Falcons on Sunday afternoon at Job Gymnasium.   

Both Felician and the Mavericks were competing in their fourth match in a 48-hour period. Both schools had been defeated by Pace University in non-league action earlier on Sunday in Rutherford.

After Felician and Mercy split the first two sets in Sunday's finale, the Golden Falcons edged the Mavericks, 25-23, in Set 3. Mercy, however, never trailed in Set 4, opening up a 17-10 edge. The hosts won the next six points before committing a service error, and the Mavericks regained control by capturing the next three rallies for a 20-16 edge. The Golden Falcons did not win a point while on service the rest of the set.

Felician entered a deciding set for the first time this season. But after a kill by Golden Falcon junior opposite hitter Kaleysa Vodrazka (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) made the score 6-5 in favor of Mercy, Felician did not score again.

Freshman outside hitter Kahea Aea (Mililani, Hawaii/Kamehameha) turned in 11 kills and 14 digs and freshman setter Sierra Gallagher (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kamehameha) had 18 assists and a season-high 17 digs for Felician (5-11). Golden Falcon senior outside Paulina Calero (El Centro, Calif./Southwest) added nine kills.

Mercy senior opposite Leah Petty (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Academy) hit .294 with 16 kills and five blocks. Setter Brooke Runge (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley-Demarest) totaled 44 assists, 13 digs and three blocks for the Mavericks (5-12).

Sunday's action began with Felician dropping a 3-0 (25-14, 26-24, 25-19) non-conference decision to Pace. The turning point came late in Set 2, when the Golden Falcons, holding a 24-20 lead, allowed the Setters to score the next six points.

Junior Samantha Nidini (Houston, Texas, Clearlake) amassed nine kills, nine assists and seven digs for Pace (13-3). The Setters served 12 aces, including five from junior Danielle Vaiano (Seaford, N.Y./St. Anthony's).

Aea (nine digs) and Baylei Furman (Kaneohe, Hawaii/Moanalua) had six kills apiece for the hosts.

Pace took a 3-1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-17) triumph over Mercy in the day's middle match. Nidini accumulated eight kills, 25 assists, nine digs and three aces.

Felician returns to Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. match at Nyack College.