Poughkeepsie, NY – The Montclair State volleyball team closed out the 2021 regular season with a straight-set victory over Vassar College Saturday.

The Red Hawks (19-10) got 10 kills, and four service aces from LEAH HIGGINS was Vassar (7-12) was paced by 12 kills from Sara Ehnstrom.

A kill from rookie KIARA POLANCO put MSU up 7-4 in the first frame before Vassar reeled off the following five markers. The Red Hawks battled back and took a 12-10 lead after an ace from DELANEY ST. PIERRE, but once again, Vassar went on a run to take the lead back. Montclair trailed 21-17 and 22-19, but they could tally six of the final seven points to take a 1-0 lead. Higgins delivered a kill and an ace during the spurt to close out set one.

The second set was tight, with Vassar cutting the lead to 10-6 after an Ehnstrom kill. The Red Hawks went on a 7-0 run, with LEAH CHIPMAN serving to build a double-digit lead. GIANNA ARIAS notched three straight kills to assist in the run. The Red Hawks never looked back, and KATELYN MONAGHAN served up consecutive aces to complete the win in that set.

SKYLAR KOWALSKI pounded home a kill to pull the final stanza level at 11, but Vassar tallied six of the next nine points and forced Montclair into a timeout. Montclair broke through to go up after kills from Polanco and NADYA ACKERMANIAN and a Brewer attack error. Montclair finished off the match by taking advantage of two straight unforced errors and finishing off the sweep.

St. Pierre handed out 29 assists while Arias hit .400 (8-2-15) while registering five blocks. Monaghan led the defensive unit by recording 17 digs from her libero position.

On Thursday, the Red Hawks will host an NJAC Semifinal Match, facing the winner of No. 3 Stockton University and No. 6 William Paterson University.