Rutherford, NJ – Volleyball rallied to defeat St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC), 3-2, Thursday evening. After dropping the opening set, 25-17, the Golden Falcons responded by winning the second and third sets, 25-20 and 25-18. STAC forced a deciding fifth set by taking the fourth, 25-21, but Felician closed out the comeback with a 15-11 victory in the final frame. Felician improves to 7-5 on the season.

Standout Stats

• Peyton Kellam led the Golden Falcons with 19 kills on 43 attacks while hitting .326. She also recorded 19 digs and finished with a team-high 20.0 points.
• Sandra Galas added 14 kills on 46 attacks, hitting .217, while recording a team-high 25 digs and 15.5 points.
• Bentley Rone orchestrated the Felician offense with 24 assists and added five service aces, nine digs and 6.0 points.
• Sophia Watterson finished with 11 assists, two service aces and 4.0 points, while Faith Sibert contributed four kills and 4.0 points.
• Tatum Williams recorded four block assists and 5.0 points, while Leena Ortiz added five kills and 7.0 points.

Key Moments

Set 1 – St. Thomas Aquinas jumped out to a 5-1 lead before Felician answered with a 7-3 run to tie the set at 8-8. Watterson delivered back-to-back service aces during the run, while Kellam and Sibert added kills. STAC regained control late and claimed the opening set, 25-17.

Set 2 – Felician responded immediately, opening the second set with a 2-0 advantage before STAC briefly moved ahead. The Golden Falcons then took control with a 6-0 run to turn a 3-5 deficit into an 9-5 lead. Felician extended the advantage to 18-10 and held off a late STAC rally to secure the set, 25-20.

Set 3 – STAC opened the third set with five straight points, but Felician answered with six consecutive points of its own. Rone recorded two service aces during the surge as the Golden Falcons moved in front, 6-5. Felician later built an 11-7 advantage, and despite STAC cutting into the lead, the Golden Falcons closed out the set, 25-18, to take a 2-1 match lead.

Set 4 – STAC raced out to a 5-0 lead, but Felician steadily battled back. The Golden Falcons erased the deficit and tied the set at 12-12 following three consecutive STAC errors and a kill from Simone Green. Felician continued to battle and closed the set on a 25-21 victory, forcing the deciding fifth set.

Set 5 – The deciding set featured seven ties, with the teams deadlocked at 7-7 and 8-8. Rone's service ace put Felician ahead, 9-8, before Galas and Kellam delivered consecutive kills to extend the lead. Kellam then recorded three consecutive kills as Felician moved from 12-9 to match point at 14-10. STAC scored once more, but Kellam finished the comeback with the final kill as Felician secured the fifth set, 15-11, and the match, 3-2.

Up Next

Felician returns to action Saturday, September 19, when the Golden Falcons continue CACC play against Chestnut Hill College.