SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 14, 2026) — The Western New England University women's volleyball team earned a 3-1 victory over Elms College on Wednesday evening at the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, winning the first, third and fourth sets to secure its fifth victory of the season. The Golden Bears prevailed by scores of 25-22, 19-25, 25-20 and 25-17.

Records:

Western New England: 5-12 (1-3 CNE)

Elms College: 3-12 (2-6 GNAC)

How It Happened:

Set One: WNE 25, Elms 22

• Western New England and Elms traded points early in the opening set, with the Golden Bears answering Elms' opening score through kills from Charlei Henkel and Olivia Long. Léa Barber and Ellie Ross also contributed kills as the teams worked through an even start.
• The teams continued to exchange points through the middle of the set. Long, Laney Melvin and Henkel helped generate offense for WNE, while Elms responded with kills from Quiana Gibbs and Keily Choy to remain within reach.
• With the score tied at 15, the Golden Bears continued to find ways to score. Madison Stauss recorded a kill, and Lauren Chagnon delivered a service ace to help WNE maintain pressure as the set moved into its later stages.
• The teams remained closely matched, trading points until the score reached 19-19. WNE then gained separation with a kill from Melvin and a service ace from Melvin, followed by an Elms attack error that helped the Golden Bears move ahead, 22-20.
• Ross and Barber combined for a key point to put WNE at set point, 24-20. Elms answered with two points to extend the set, but Henkel finished the frame with a kill off a feed from Hilarie Porcaro, giving the Golden Bears a 25-22 win and a 1-0 match lead.

Set Two: Elms 25, WNE 19

• The Golden Bears opened the second set with a kill from Kendra Robayo, assisted by Stauss, but Elms responded to keep the score close. Henkel and Barber helped WNE take an early lead, including a block by Robayo and Barber that resulted in an Elms attack error.
• WNE and Elms traded points through the opening stretch, with Long and Barber providing kills for the Golden Bears. Chagnon added a service ace to help WNE reach a 7-7 tie before Elms began to build an advantage.
• Elms created separation with a run that included a service ace and consecutive kills from Liliana Simmons, moving ahead 13-7. Henkel and Melvin helped WNE answer, and a kill from Crowley brought the Golden Bears closer as they worked to close the gap.
• The Golden Bears continued to battle back through the middle of the set. Kills from Henkel, Robayo, Barber and Long helped WNE cut into the deficit, but Elms responded with timely points to preserve its lead and move ahead 22-16.
• WNE made another push late, with Barber and Long recording kills to bring the score to 19-23. Elms, however, secured the final two points with a kill from Quiana Gibbs and another from Simmons, taking the set 25-19 and evening the match at one set apiece.

Set Three: WNE 25, Elms 20

• The third set began competitively, with both teams exchanging points as WNE looked to regain the lead in the match. The Golden Bears generated offense through their attackers while working to contain Elms' response.
• Chagnon helped spark the WNE attack with a service ace, and the Golden Bears continued to apply pressure from the service line. The teams remained close through the middle of the set, reaching a 12-12 tie.
• Ross helped shift momentum in WNE's favor with a service ace, and the Golden Bears continued to build on that stretch. Henkel and Robayo contributed at the net, including a block that resulted in an Elms attack error, helping WNE extend its advantage.
• Elms stayed within striking distance and briefly moved ahead, 19-18, but the Golden Bears answered with a kill from Long to regain the lead. WNE followed with another point from Henkel and continued to execute as the set entered its closing stretch.
• Chagnon delivered another service ace to help WNE reach 23 points, and the Golden Bears closed out the set with a kill from Henkel followed by a service ace from Melvin. The 25-20 victory gave Western New England a 2-1 lead in the match.

Set Four: WNE 25, Elms 17

• Western New England established early control in the fourth set, opening with a kill from Robayo and receiving contributions from Barber and Henkel. A block involving Robayo and Barber helped the Golden Bears extend their lead as they looked to close out the match.
• Barber added a service ace, and WNE continued to build its advantage through the front row. The Golden Bears received another ace from Barber before Chagnon added to the service pressure, helping WNE create separation.
• Chagnon delivered a strong stretch from the service line, recording consecutive aces as the Golden Bears pushed their lead into double digits. WNE continued to score through its attack, reaching an 18-9 advantage as Elms attempted to respond.
• Henkel and Robayo helped maintain the cushion during the middle and late stages of the set. Robayo recorded a kill, and another Elms attack error resulting from a block by Robayo gave WNE a 22-10 lead.
• Elms put together a late push, scoring several points to reach 17, but the Golden Bears held firm. After Robayo recorded a kill to bring WNE to 23, an Elms attack error gave the hosts match point, and Long delivered the final kill off a set from Abby Thomas to seal the 25-17 win and the 3-1 match victory.

Key Performances:

• Henkel led the Golden Bears with 18 kills on 42 attempts, hitting .333, and added a block assist for 18.5 points.
• Long followed with 15 kills on 33 attempts while hitting .303, providing another consistent option in the attack.
• Barber contributed 11 kills and 15 digs, recording a double-digit total in both categories.
• Chagnon was a major factor from the service line, finishing with seven service aces and 12 digs.
• Ellie Ross paced the offense with 22 assists and added four kills and three aces, while Madison Stauss distributed 19 assists and recorded eight digs.
• Kendra Robayo contributed seven kills and five total blocks, including one solo block and four block assists.
• As a team, Western New England finished with 60 kills, a .240 hitting percentage and 14 service aces. The Golden Bears' ability to generate offense and disrupt Elms' attack proved especially important in the final set, when they held the visitors to a .032 hitting percentage.

Up Next:

The Golden Bears return to the court Friday, October 16, when they host Johnson & Wales University at 7 p.m. inside the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center.