SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 28, 2023) – The Western New England women's volleyball team collected a big 3-1 victory over the Fighting Scots of Gordon College on Saturday afternoon in their annual Dig Pink match, picking up their fourth CCC victory of the season.
Records:
- Western New England: 10-10, 4-2 CCC
- Gordon College: 13-10, 4-2 CCC
How it Happened:
Western New England came away with an early 5-2 lead when
Yemayma Molina and
Isabella Procida helped the Golden Bears come out with an early lead. Gordon would storm back to take an 8-7 lead after Annie Murphy sent down a kill for the Fighting Scots. WNE would come back after
Elizabeth Long gave WNE a 10-8 lead on a kill. Western New England would build their lead on service from
Becca Mayer, who recorded her 1,000
th dig as a member of the Golden Bears in their last match at Wentworth. WNE took a 14-9 lead at the midway point of the first set. Gordon would storm back, grabbing six of eight points and getting within one point of the lead before
Leah Warren would smash down a kill. WNE's 19-16 lead would quickly evaporate as Gordon would collect three points in a row to even the score at 19. Six straight points from the Golden Bears on service from
Alissa Hawes would send WNE to a first-set victory, 25-19.
Ella Soutter and Elizabeth Ling recorded kills to help finish the set.
WNE opened the second set with three points, though Gordon would fight back and take a 6-5 lead when Joey Keltner slammed down a kill. The Golden Bears ripped off four straight points on four kills when
Alissa Hawes,
Isabelle Petty, and
Ella Soutter were on the board in the second set. A massive 7-0 run for Gordon would put the Fighting Scots ahead 15-11, as six of seven points came as thunderous kills for the visitors. Western New England would not be able to recover from there, as Gordon would score 14 of the last 19 points in the set, evening the match at one.
What looked to be a one-sided third set would flip quickly. Gordon came away with a quick 6-2 lead as Anie Murphy would continue to lead the way for the Fighting Scots. WNE's
Isabella Procida would lead the Golden Bears in the service game, helping WNE grab six straight points to get a 9-6 lead. Gordon would fight back, however, getting the set to within three points at 18-15, though
Yemayma Molina would stop that attack, grabbing a huge point for WNE. Western New England would close out the third set by scoring four of the last five points, as
Isabelle Petty and
Alissa Hawes would give WNE the 2-1 sets lead.
Gordon would lead by as many as four in the fourth set, though Western New England would complete the comeback to take the match. The Fighting Scots came out with a quick 6-3 lead in the fourth set and then again took a 15-11 lead at the midway point of the fourth set.
Taylor Geist would serve WNE back into the set, grabbing a service ace. WNE would make a 6-0 run when
Leah Warren,
Alissa Hawes, and
Isabelle Petty would all record kills to take a 22-17 lead. The Fighting Scots would not be able to comeback from there, as
Ella Soutter would finish the final point of the match for WNE, giving the Golden Bears a 25-19 lead in the fourth set and a 3-1 match victory.
Inside the Lines:
- Alissa Hawes and Yemayma Molina both recorded double-digit kills for the Golden Bears in Saturday's win, combining for 23 kills.
- WNE hit.220 as a team, hitting.317 in the third set victory.
- The Golden Bears recorded 12 aces in the match while recording five total blocks.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- WNE continued their homestand to end the season, entertaining Nichols College on Wednesday, November 1 at 7:00 p.m.
