QUINCY, Mass. (September 2, 2023) – The Western New England women's volleyball team dropped their final two matches of the Eastern Nazarene Invitational on Saturday afternoon, falling to Linfield University 3-2 and William Smith College 3-0 to finish the invite without a victory.

How it Happened (vs. Linfield University):

The first set would see Linfield grab the first three points of the game before WNE would get on the board on a service error. Allisa Hawes would grab the next point of the match for the Golden Bears as a kill from Hailey Sell would get WNE back within striking distance. WNE would not lead in the first set, however, as Linfield would make two three-point runs to lead by as many as eight in the set. Western New England would try to mount a comeback after being down by nine as 22-13 after Becca Mayer would serve five times for five WNE points, cutting Linfield's lead to five before the Wildcats finished the set with three straight points to take the first set 25-17. 

Western New England would battle in the second set and would come away victorious in a set for the first time in 2023. After being down by as many as five in the set, the Golden Bears would see Alissa Hawes and Zoe Bozzay get WNE back into the match as Western New England would trail 15-14. Linfield would take a 20-15 lead late in the set before the Golden Bears would earn the next six of seven points in the set to by down by just one point. Ella Soutter and Isabelle Petty would send down thunderous kills to help WNE mount their comeback. At set point, Linfield would force the tying point before Taylor Geist would grab a kill and a service ace from Ella Soutter would grab Western New England the 26-24 win. 

WNE would take a quick two-point lead in the third set after Alissa Hawes sent down a kill. Four straight points from the Wildcats would grab Linfield a 6-4 lead. Points would go back and forth until Linfield made another run, this time a four-point run to go ahead 12-8 before Alissa Hawes and Ella Soutter would come up with more kills for WNE. Elizabeth Long would contribute for WNE in the third set though Linfield would close the set on a 3-0 run, winning set three 25-16. 

In the fourth, Western New England would see Linfield grab six points after leading by two as the Wildcats came out with a 10-7 lead. WNE would fight back as Hailey Sell, Ella Soutter, and Taylor Geist would help WNE get within a point of a tie. WNE would make their biggest run of the set to take the lead at 15-14 when Isabelle Petty slammed a kill for WNE. Points would favor the Golden Bears late, after WNE fell behind 21-29 though turned that around to go ahead 22-21. The Golden Bears would finish off the fourth set with a kill from Petty and an attack error and block from Leah Warren and Petty to give WNE the win and force a fifth and final set. 

Linfield would come out of the fifth set screaming, grabbing the first five of six points, taking a 5-1 lead and would not look back. Linfield would go ahead by as many as eight in the fifth set as WNE would fall 15-9 to drop the five set thrilling match. 

How it Happened (vs. William Smith):
Western New England would maintain a small lead through the first 12 points of the match grabbing multiple points on service errors by the Herons. The Herons would come back and grab the next seven of eight points in the opening set, taking a 12-8 lead. Yemayma Molina would put an end to that with a kill and a small run for the Golden Bears would get the Golden Bears back within two points of a tie. WNE would come around to even the score at 17-all after Elizabeth Long would deliver a service ace as WNE would get four straight points. William Smith would close the first set with five straight points, taking the opening frame 25-19. 

The Herons opened the second set with a 6-2 lead, going on a quick 4-0 scoring run. William Smith would lead by as many as nine early in the second set and did not look back, defeating WNE 25-17. The Golden Bears would see themselves up a point after a kill in the third set brought the score to 7-6. Katie Garland would put down a kill for WNE to even the score at eight before an attack error by the Herons would get the Golden Bears the 9-8 lead. From there, William Smith would take the lead and hold onto the lead for the rest of the match, defeating WNE 25-14, taking the three-set sweep. 

Inside the Tournament:

• WNE would see Elizabeth Long lead WNE with five kills in the second match of the night.
• Becca Mayer came away with two services aces in the match. Mayer was named to the all-tournament team following the match. 
• Alissa Hawes leads WNE with 21 kills on the season. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE hosts Elms College on Thursday, September 7 at 7:00 PM for their home opener.