QUINCY, Mass.- Mount Ida senior setter Nicole Peixoto (New Bedford, Mass.) tied the Mount Ida record for assists in a five-set match, and also set a new personal best with 43 assists in a 3-2 defeat to hosts Eastern Nazarene, as Mount Ida dropped a pair of matches on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action at the Lahue Physical Education Center.
The Lions move to 2-15 on the year while the Mustangs drop to 5-14 after also dropping a 3-0 decision to the University of Southern Maine (13-6).
Peixoto tied Julie Smith and Liz Harrington, who accomplished the same feat ten years apart. Smith put up 43 assists on October 8th, 2012 at Saint Joseph's Maine, while Harrington's achievement came on November 9, 2002 at Lasell.
Peixoto barely eclipsed her previous mark of 42, which she accomplished twice, both during this 2014 campaign.
For the day, Peixoto racked up 68 digs, while junior Taylor Davis (Machiasport, Maine) paced the Mustangs with 21 kills and 16 digs on the afternoon and Kelcey Koolman (Bedford, N.H.) finished with 27 digs.
Kortney Jenkins (Bunker Hill, W.Va.) led the way for Eastern Nazarene with 25 kills, 24 digs and 10 aces on the afternoon. Joanna Joseph (Brockton, Mass.) finished with 10 kills while Hannah Welsh (Derry, N.H.) added eight kills, nine assists and 16 digs in the two matches.
Kayla Dean (Lansdale, Pa.) posted 23 digs and Lauryl Berger (Laurel, Del.) registered 37 assists and 15 digs for the home team.
The Lions snapped their 11-match skid with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mount Ida in the matinee.
Eastern Nazarene claimed the first set 25-21 before the Mustangs leveled the match at 1-1 with a 25-14 decision in the second. The guests took a 2-1 advantage after prevailing in the third frame 25-16.
The Lions battled back to even the match at 2-2 as they edged Mount Ida 26-24 in the fourth. The hosts closed out the victory with a 15-11 win in the deciding fifth set.
Southern Maine prevailed 25-15, 25-21 and 25-12 against Mount Ida, as they swept both of their matches in this non-conference tri-match.
Southern Maine was led by rookie Jessica Williamson with 33 kills and 26 digs. Megan Nilson tallied 53 assists while Demi Ruder racked up 24 digs.