WEST HAVEN, Conn. – For the second time in the last three matches, the New Haven Chargers and Saint Anselm Hawks needed five sets to decide a victor with the top-seed in the NCAA Division II East Region Championship, New Haven (26-5), scoring a 3-2 decision to advance to the semifinal round for the third straight season.

Leading the Blue and Gold was senior setter Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) who posted her third triple double of the season and her second straight in the NCAA East Region quarterfinal round. Rios was one of four players in double figures offensively as she finished with 16 kills, while leading the team with 37 assists while adding 15 digs.

Among the four double figure hitters for the Chargers, junior Mallory Nowicki (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview) led all with 19 kills and a team-high .417 attack percentage. Her 19 hammers came on 36 attacks with four errors. Rios' 16 kills came on 45 attempts as she suffered just one error in the five-set match. Joining Rios in calling the Chargers offense was sophomore Angela Chan (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) who finished with 26, the second most in her collegiate career. Combined the two-setter rotation led New Haven to a .258 attack average with 71 total kills.

Defensively, New Haven's senior libero Brianna Mirmina (Bethany, Conn./Amity Regional) led the way with 28 digs, one of five players in double figures. In addition to her and Rios, sophomores Chan and Greathead each finished with 17, while senior Lindsey Kim (Rye Brook, N.Y./Blind Brook) rounded out the group with 14.

The Blue and Gold also combined for 10 total blocks, led by sophomore middle blocker Camille Garden (Atlanta, Ga./Landmark Christian) with nine total, including a pair of solo rejections. She added those nine blocks to eight kills.

New Haven advances to play the winner of the final quarterfinal between fourth seeded Molloy and fifth seeded Holy Family. The semifinal match is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 16.