FLUSHING, N.Y. – Behind career-high kills from freshman Christina Franco (Lynbrook, N.Y.) and sophomore Alexis Deodat (Riverview, FL), the Queens College volleyball team (4-18 overall) concluded their home portion of the 2021 schedule on a high note with a victory over Pace University Setters (1-20 overall) in non-conference action.
 
Led by Franco's sixth double-double of the season with a match-high 18 kills and 23 digs and Deodat's 13 kills (career-high) and four blocks, the Knights defeated the Setters in four sets Tuesday evening. The set scores were 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18.
 
How it Happened 

• Both sides started the first set exchanging points before the Knights jumped ahead 9-7 forcing the Setters to take a timeout. But the Setters would respond with a 6-2 run.
• The Knights would fight back before a Setters attacking error tied the first set 17-17 as the first set saw the score tied 10 times with six lead changes.
• Deodat would tally back-to-back kills to put the home side up 21-19 but the visitors would not go away as they continued to back led by Madisen Lupica team-high six kills in the first set. 
• Franco would respond with two kills to put the Knights up 24-21 before Lupica responded for her team. 
• The Knights would take their last timeout of the first set to stop the momentum before a kill by senior Genesis Soto (San Juan, Puerto Rico) gave the Knights a 1-0 lead with a 25-23 first set victory. 
• Pace would open the second set with a 3-0 run before the Knights fought back and tied the set 7-7. 
• Tied 14-14, Soto would deliver with two straight aces to put the Knights up 19-15 before a kill by senior Dee-Ana Mitchell (Middle Island, N.Y.) put the Knights up 21-16. 
• With Franco hitting .333 in the second set, Queens would close out the set on an 11-5 run and take a commanding 2-0 set lead with a 25-19 second set victory. 
• Pace would make adjustments in the third set and take a 7-1 leading forcing Queens to take an early timeout. 
• Using the timeout to their advantage, Queens would go on a 10-4 run to tie the third set 11-11. 
• With the Knights only hitting .075 and committing eight attacking errors, the Setters would force a fourth set with 25-22 third set victory. 
• Pace would use the third victory momentum to their advantage and opened the fourth set with an 8-3 lead forcing Queens to take another early timeout. 
• Deodat and Soto would combine for seven kills as the Knights went on a 14-6 run to take a 17-14 lead and force a Pace timeout. 
• With the momentum now on their side and determined to end the home schedule on a high, Queens would close out the fourth set with an 8-4 run and defeat Pace 3-1 with a 25-18 fourth set victory. 

By the Numbers

• Franco tallied her sixth double-double of her career with 18 kills and 23 digs as she extended her streak to seven matches with 12 or more digs. 
• Deodat notched a career-high 13 kills, while Soto and Mitchell combined for 17 kills in the win. 
• Senior Melody Pabon (Bronx, N.Y.) made her second career start and notched a career-high 25 digs. 
• It was a career day for freshman Despina Boudouris (Athens, Greece) as the Greece native tallied a career-high 40 assists and 17 digs performance. 
• It was the first 40-assist game by a Knights' player since Kristen Moore tallied 43 assists in the 3-2 win over Daemen College on November 11, 2017.
• With the 3-1 victory, Queens won their first game over Pace at home since the 3-0 win back on October 17, 2008.

Head Coach Stefan Leger Post Game Statement: "I am very proud of how the team played today. The defensive intensity of each individual player led the way, providing us a platform to get a win over Pace. As a unit, the covering, transitioning and all the other little pieces of play that are building blocks to be successful were executed at an extremely high level. When we play like that, it is very tough to beat us. I look forward to seeing this team compete with such veracity at our next match on Saturday against Molloy"

UP NEXT: The Knights conclude the season on Saturday (Nov. 13) as they travel to Rockville Centre, N.Y. with an East Coast Conference match against Molloy College. First serve is set for noon.
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