BOSTON, Mass. (September 10, 2025) – The Western New England women's volleyball team fell in straight sets for the first time this season on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action against the Beacons of UMass-Boston, dropping 25-14, 25-10, and 25-22 decisions, wrapping up their season-long eight match road swing to begin the season. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-5
• UMass-Boston: 2-6

How It Happened:

Opening Set:

• Western New England saw the Beacons set the tone from the beginning and never looked back. A service ace began play in the match in favor of UMB. Katie Garland had an early kill for the Golden Bears while an attacking error from the Beacons put WNE behind just 5-4 after the first nine points of the match. The two teams went back and forth until Western New England picked up three straight points to get back within one again, following two more attacking errors from the Beacons. 
• Western New England held its first lead of the match following kills from Charlei Henkel and Léa Barber, giving the visitors an 11-10 edge in the match. From there, it would be all Beacons, who pushes forward with the next six points overall, taking a 16-11 lead. 
• UMass-Boston continued another run late in the set, picking up five straight points and eight of the final nine to take care of the opening set, 25-14. WNE managed just five kills and a .037% hit percentage while UMass-Boston came out flying, smashing down 14 kills, a .263% hitting percentage and had three blocks. 

Second Set:

• The Beacons picked up the first three points of the second set to begin play but Western New England was on the board with the next two, following kills from Brianna Manes and Rachel Critz. The Beacons then struck for a run of five of the next seven points to push their lead out to 9-4. 
• The Golden Bears picked up a pair of kills from Henkel and added a point on an attacking error from UMB, trailing 13-9 but the Beacons responded again with the next seven points, putting the blue and gold in the hole, 20-9. 
• UMass-Boston finished the second set with 12 of the final 13 points to breeze by WNE 25-10. WNE hit a poor .-103% from the floor, managing just four kills while picking up seven attacking errors. The Beacons had 12 kills and hit .333% from the floor. 

Third Set:

• The Beacons opened the third set with three of the first four points but a response for the Golden Bears would even the match at three following a service ace from Lauren Chagnon. UMB then dropped five points in a row as they looked to run away with match in straight sets. 
• Western New England bounced back with seven points in a row, following service from Morgan Bonin, taking a 10-8 lead. The Golden Bears kept their lead, leading 16-12 advantage following another kill from Henkel.
• The Beacons would edge their way back into the set after WNE led 22-20 and would come up with the final five points of the match and picked up a 25-22 win over Western New England, sweeping the Golden Bears in straight sets, 3-0. 

Inside the Lines:

• Léa Barber led WNE with six kills and 13 digs in the match. 
• For the first time this season, the Golden Bears hit into a negative attacking percentage, picking up 18 kills and had 20 attacking errors.
• UMass-Boston flourished from the floor, picking up 36 kills, 12 service aces, six blocks, and a .247% attacking percentage for the match. 
• This is the first time the Golden Bears have been swept in a loss this season. WNE was swept in straight sets just once last season. 

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE will be on home court for the first time this season on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, hosting a tri match with WPI and Keene State College.