The Quinnipiac Bobcats overcame the St. Peter’s Peacocks in three sets in a match that, in spite of its outcome, turned out to be an unexpected nail-biter for Bobcat fans.

Despite only possessing a single win thus far in the season, the Peacocks came within moments of stealing the match’s first set. Despite never leading at any point throughout the game, St. Peter’s tied up the first set at twenty-four apiece before a series of Nicole Legg hits helped the Bobcats secure a 26-24 lead and escape as the victors of the set.

Three consecutive points from Lexi Morse midway through the second set appeared to provide the push of momentum the Bobcats needed to secure the match. Quinnipiac finished the second set with a decisive 25-10 lead before sending St. Peter’s packing after set number three concluded with a 25-18 score.

After saying goodbye to seven players in the previous year, the Peacock’s fourteen-player roster now includes 10 first-year talents, making them among the youngest rosters in the MAAC conference. The organization, who currently boasts a 1-29 record with just one game remaining in their regular season has yet to win a match that hasn’t been held within the confines of their hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey. Today’s loss extended their away-game losing streak to 15.

Despite the apparent implications of their record, none of this information was comforting news to Bobcats head coach Kyle Robinson.

“The reality is, they’re a team that has nothing to lose,” Robinson said after the game. “That whole attitude of having nothing to lose is dangerous.”

Meanwhile, the Bobcats have enjoyed a sudden surge of success. After they started off their season 2-11, they’ve now won eight of their last nine contests. 

“We knew at some point it was gonna happen, it just didn’t happen as quick as we always wanted it to be, but that’s just the reality of life,” Robinson said. “I always knew we were gonna get better.”

Senior Quinnipiac middle blocker Alisa Mejia sat out Saturday’s game after sustaining an injury that left her on crutches in a match against Manhatten on Nov. 5. There is currently no timetable for her return.

Only one regular season game now stands between the Bobcats and their long-awaited Orlando journey, where they’ll participate as the sixth seed in the MAAC tournament. The location of the tournament which last year was held at Siena College in New York brings with it a newfound level of excitement evident in the sentiments expressed by both Robinson and his players.

“At the end of the day, I want to have fun and enjoy what we do,” Robinson said. “I think the Disney trip brings an element of fun and [is] something kind of new and out of the norm.”

The experience will be especially exhilarating for the teams’ four international athletes, who will get a taste of one of America’s most notable cultural landmarks. 

“This is the first time [I’ll be going to Florida],” Italian first-year Giorgia Donghi said. “I’m so excited.”

But the ever-approaching MAAC tournament appeared to be of minimal concern to Robinson, whose post-game interview kicked off with a compelling back-and-forth about his ambitions to spice up his outdoor living space.

“Can anyone lend me 600 bucks?” Robinson asked. “I want to buy a pellet-fed stove.” 

Nobody could.

The Bobcats’ final regular season outing will come on Sunday, Nov. 13, against Rider University. The Senior Night game will celebrate outside hitter Aryanah Diaz as well as opposite Alisa Mejia, the team’s two sole senior talents.