SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 2, 2024) – Senior setter Taylor Geist recorded her 2,000th career assist for the Golden Bears, but it was not enough to overcome the Hawks of Roger Williams University, who claimed a 3-0 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Records:

• Western New England: 18-6, 3-4 CNE
• Roger Williams University: 15-10, 5-2 CNE

How it Happened: 

Roger Williams University opened the match with a service ace, sparking a 4-0 early run for the Hawks. RWU's Kaylee Jackson earned two kills early on, while Ava Mattiucci recorded two service aces. Taylor Geist scored the first point for Western New England, halting the Hawks' run with a kill. The Golden Bears' fifth point of the match was particularly special, as Geist recorded her 2,000th career assist on a kill by Léa Barber, becoming only the third Golden Bear in program history to reach 2,000 career assists. Western New England came within two points of a tie, but RWU maintained and expanded their lead. Key players for the Hawks—Kaydence Fish, Brianna Picchietti, and Hailey Brasseur—forced a Western New England timeout with a 16-10 lead. The Hawks extended their lead to seven in the opening set, but the Golden Bears mounted a comeback, taking six of the next eight points to close the gap. Alissa Hawes recorded a kill, with Isabelle Petty and Yemayma Molina following suit to bring the Golden Bears within three points, prompting an RWU timeout. Western New England came from seven points down to tie the set at 21, with a kill from Geist and two attacking errors evening the score. RWU responded with three straight points to reach set point at 24-21. The Golden Bears didn't go down easily, with Barber and Hawes adding kills to narrow the score to 24-23, leading to another Hawks timeout. Roger Williams ultimately claimed the final two points of the set, securing the opener with a block from Payton Felix and Kaydence Fish. Both teams hit well in the first set, with WNE achieving a .243% hitting percentage and 13 kills, while the Hawks recorded 16 kills and two blocks to take the set.

The second set began with both teams battling. RWU took an early 2-0 lead with a kill from Ava Mattucci. Western New England responded with four consecutive points, with Alissa Hawes contributing two kills and Becca Mayer adding a service ace, giving the Golden Bears a 4-2 lead. WNE led by as many as three after another kill from Léa Barber. Roger Williams then took the next three points to tie the set at seven. The Hawks maintained control from that point, going on a five-out-of-six-point run to lead 13-10. Roger Williams kept a three-point lead, holding at 18-15 after a kill by Brianna Picchietti. The Golden Bears tallied seven attacking errors in the second set, while Roger Williams kept pressing, maintaining a steady lead into the final points. Despite back-to-back attacking errors by RWU that gave the Golden Bears hope at 24-21, Picchietti sealed the set with another kill, giving the Hawks a 25-21 victory. WNE found themselves in a 2-0 hole in the match, hitting .056% in the set compared to RWU's .051%. WNE also recorded five service errors and ten attacking errors, falling behind by two sets.

The Golden Bears opened the third set with the first two points, aiming for a comeback in this critical CNE match. Yemayma Molina started with a kill, but the Hawks quickly tied the set at two and took their first lead at 5-4 on a WNE error. The teams stayed close until Roger Williams extended their lead to 13-10, prompting a WNE timeout. The Hawks continued to push, taking a 17-12 lead. Roger Williams sustained their momentum, stretching the lead to 21-14. The Golden Bears rallied with four straight points, including two kills from Alissa Hawes and one from Yemayma Molina, narrowing the gap to 22-19. Western New England eventually tied the score at 23 with a block from Hawes and Isabelle Petty. The third set went the distance, but Roger Williams clinched it 27-25, securing a 3-0 match victory.

Inside the Lines:

• The Golden Bears hit .151% for the match, with Roger Williams slightly ahead at .155%.
• Alissa Hawes recorded 16 kills with a .234% hitting percentage, while Taylor Geist achieved seven kills at .412% and added 33 assists, including her 2,000th career assist.
• RWU was led by Brianna Picchietti, who had 11 of the Hawks' 38 kills.
• The Hawks broke a three-match losing streak against Western New England, avenging last year's playoff defeat.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears aim to rebound in CNE play at the University of Hartford on Wednesday, November 6, at 7:00 PM.