New York, New York - With a Trip to the Region 15 Semifinals on the line, the NJCAA Region 15 second-seed BMCC women's volleyball team fought off three set points to outmuscle seventh-seeded Kingsborough Community College, 3-1, in the Region 15 Quarterfinals on Thursday night at BMCC Gymnasium. The Panthers improve to 15-5 with their fourth straight victory, while the Wave fall to 6-10.
Sophomore Josanne Lewis (Rochester, Minnesota) got her postseason off to a roaring start uncorking a match-high and single program record 38 kills which surpassed her 30-kill performance earlier this season against Region semifinals contender Dutchess Community College. Lewis also posted her team-leading 15th double-double and seventh in her last eight matches with 16 digs. Classmate Xheni Doci (Saluzzo, Italy) distributed a game and career-high 45 assists to go along with 19 digs for her 13th and seventh straight double-double on the season. Freshman Albina Rugova (New York, New York) led the Panthers from the service line with team-best three service aces.
Classmate Emmanuella Aurel (Port Au Prince, Haiti) gave out seven assists of her own with five kills and a service ace while also leading the BMCC backline with a game-high 25 digs. Underclassman Sarah Lee (Staten Island, New York) corralled 22 digs, and Rugova had eight in the match.
The Panthers exploded out the gate, going on a 14-1 run to open the first set, with Lewis uncorking six of her 10 kills in the set kills during the run to make it a 15-1 advantage and lead them to a 25-11 victory and 1-0 lead in the match.
The Wave responded in the second set with authority racing out to a 9-3 lead and extending it to 17-8 before the Panthers used a 9-2 run to get the lead down to three, 19-16. Kingsborough would record the following four points to lead by four 23-19, then BMCC would cut it down to three again, 23-20, before the Wave closed out the second set with the final two points to win it 25-20 and even up the match.
Both teams were settled in when the third set tipped off, providing a pendulum of momentum with four lead changes and eight ties through the first 22 points of the set. However, Kingborough would grab the lead back for the third time in the set before BMCC provided a furious 12-1 run retaking the lead 14-13, extending it to 23 14, and taking the third set 25-17.
The Wave would make the Panthers earn every point in the fourth set. Kingsborough got off to a great start rolling off the first six points of the set before BMCC outscored them 14-6 to knot it up at 14. BMCC would get the following three points to go back in front 23-22 before Kingsborough Community College recorded back-to-back points to set up set point and have the potential to force a fifth set.
The match would provide drama to the final point of the set, with both squads fighting off a total of five set points. After both squads kept themselves alive in the fourth set with sideouts to cancel out set points, Noarie Proverbs kill gave the Wave a 27-26 lead setting up their third set point of the set. BMCC would roll off four of the following five points fighting off KCC's third set point courtesy of Lewis's single-season record 38th kill of the night, tying it at 27. Then Doci buried two of her three kills on the night to give the Panthers the lead 28-27 and 29-28 before a Lucia Duran attack error into the match ended it sending the Panther to the Regional Semifinals with a 30-28 win in the fourth set.
Kingsborough Community College was led on offense by Noarie Proverbs, who led all swingers with a team-high 11 kills on the night and chipped in defensively with a game-best two solo blocks. Aneesa Leka posted a double-double with 16 assists and 16 digs, while Victoria Cook placed a game-high four service aces.
Lucia Duran led the Wave on the backline with 21 digs, and Ashley Flores and Cook had 13 and 11, respectively.
The Panthers come into their first Region 15 semifinals match for the first time since 2017 as the second seed. They will face third seed Dutchess Community College in a rematch of an epic five-set thriller from earlier this season on Saturday, October 20, at noon in Middletown, New York. The winner of that match plays for the 2022 Region 15 Championship. For more information, visit the BMCC Women's Volleyball Schedule Page.
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The athletic program at Borough of Manhattan Community College encompasses a total of eight varsity teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level. For the latest news on the Panthers, please visit us at https://bmccathletics.com - The official site of BMCC Athletics. Follow the Panthers on Instagram (@bmcc_athletics) and Twitter (@BMCCAthletics), and Like Us on Facebook (BMCC Athletics).
