SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 19, 2024) – The Western New England women's volleyball team collected a big 3-1 victory on Saturday afternoon from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, defeating the Nor'easters from the University of New England in Conference of New England play. Alissa Hawes and Léa Barber led the way on the attack, while Taylor Geist put together 38 set assists for Western New England.

Records:

• Western New England: 16-4, 2-2 CNE
• University of New England: 15-4, 2-2 CNE

How it Happened:

UNE got off to a quick 4-1 start in the opening five points of the match, seeing Hannah Nowell and Elijah Hanley pick up early kills. Western New England would claw back as Alissa Hawes would notch a kill and a service ace while Leah Warren and Yemayma Molina would collect a block to give WNE an 8-6 lead. WNE would grow their lead to three at 11-8 after Taylor Geist would set Léa Barber up for a kill. UNE would storm back in a big way after collecting eight of the next ten points to take a 20-15 lead on the Golden Bears. Western New England would not let UNE's run decide the opening set of the match; rather, a run of their down would see Isabelle Petty and Barber pick up kills to get within two, 20-18, while Leah Warren gave WNE the lead by on an assist from Laney Melvin, giving the blue and gold a 22-21 lead. UNE would waste two set points after coming back to take a 24-22 lead, needing just one point to put an end to the opening set. WNE would see both Warren and Barber pick up kills to tie the match at 24. Needing extra time, Western New England would find four of the final five points in the match, finished off by a kill from Taylor Geist, giving Western New England an opening 28-26 set victory. WNE hit .205% in the opening set, grabbing 16 kills.

Léa Barber picked up the opening kill of the second set while WNE would flip the script on the Nor'easters, picking up two kills, a service ace, and an attacking error to take the early advantage. Alissa Hawes would notch two quick kills for WNE to extend the lead to 6-2 in the set. The Nor'easters would stay behind by four at 12-8 after Barber smahed down another kill for Western New England. From there, UNE would climb back with six straight points of their own, picking up two kills while taking advantage of two WNE attacking errors to take a 14-12 lead, their first lead of the second set. The Golden Bears would look to make a run of their own, picking up five of the next seven points to take a two-point lead of their own. Hawes continued to dominate for the Golden Bears, picking up two kills in the sequence. UNE would make another run of five of the next six points to take the two-of their ownpoint lead back, 21-19. The Golden Bears would take exception, coming around to win the second set 25-23 after an attacking error from the Nor'easters to come away with the win. WNE continued to hit the ball with power, collecting 16 kills and hitting .263% from the floor.

UNE looked to get back in the match in the third set, taking the early 6-1 lead. Western New England would battle back in the third set quickly, getting back within two, 6-4, after Ava Cariddi dropped a kill. WNE would come all the way back to tie the match at 12, thanks to service from Becca Mayer, picking up three straight points for Western New England. The Golden Bears and Nor'easters would stay close as the match would be tied at 19. From there, UNE would come away with the next six points to take the set victory 25-19.

The Golden Bears would need a fourth set to come away with the victory in the match, opening with a 3-0 lead on three attacking errors from UNE. The Nor'easters would lead by as many as six in the fourth set, taking a 12-6 lead on blocks from Kassidy Bradshaw and Kendall Gallaugher. Western New England would not back down, seeing Alissa Hawes and Yemayma Molina come away with kills while two bad sets from the Nor'easters would complete the comeback for WNE, who evened the match at 17. The Golden Bears began building momentum, seeing Leah Warren and Ava Cariddi help the Golden Bears take a 22-21 lead. Western New England would see a 24-22 lead shrink to just a one-point lead, though Taylor Geist would make sure the Golden Bears would come away with a victory, producing the final kill of the afternoon, leading Western New England to a 3-1 victory in CNE play.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears saw Alissa Hawes and Léa Barber lead the attack on Saturday afternoon, coming away with 16 and 13 kills, respectively.
• UNE was credited with 22 block assists in the match, though they could not come away with the victory. Kailyn Reilly collected eight total BA's in the loss.
• Taylor Geist grabbed 38 set assists to lead all players.
• Becca Mayer collected 18 digs in the match and one service ace. Alissa Hawes and Ava Cariddi had three service aces, respectively.
• WNE hit .149% for the match, led by Taylor Geist, who hit .417% on 12 attacks.
• WNE defeats UNE for the fourth straight time. No match has gone 3-0 since 2017 between the two teams.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears continue CNE play on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 PM to take on Nichols College on the road.