BEVERLY, Mass. (Oct. 21, 2026) — After dropping the opening set, the Western New England University women's volleyball team responded with an impressive second-set performance Wednesday evening, using a dominant start and a balanced offensive attack to even its Conference of New England (CNE) matchup with Endicott College. However, the host Gulls regained control over the final two sets to secure a 3-1 victory over the Golden Bears by scores of 25-11, 14-25, 25-16 and 25-13. Léa Barber provided an offensive spark throughout the contest, particularly during Western New England's second-set victory, but Endicott's ability to establish early leads and sustain scoring runs proved decisive.

Records:

Western New England: 5-14 (1-5 CNE)
Endicott College: 14-6 (5-1 CNE)

How It Happened:

First Set — Endicott 25, Western New England 11

• Endicott established an early advantage, scoring the first two points before extending its lead to 5-1. Kendra Robayo put Western New England on the scoreboard offensively with a kill assisted by Madison Stauss, while Evelyn Taylor followed with a service ace to bring the Golden Bears within two at 5-3.
• The Gulls responded with another scoring surge, stretching their advantage to 11-4 behind kills from Francesca Batek and Lincoln Abramaitys, along with an ace from Ava Grace Dresback. Western New England called timeout facing a seven-point deficit.
• Olivia Long ended the run with a kill off an assist from Léa Barber, but Endicott maintained its offensive rhythm. A kill from Batek and a service ace by Abramaitys pushed the Gulls' lead to 13-5 as the Golden Bears searched for a way to slow the home team's momentum.
• Barber contributed a kill to make the score 7-14, but Endicott continued to capitalize on its opportunities, extending the margin to 18-9. Western New England received points on a pair of Endicott setting errors, though the Gulls maintained control of the opening frame.
• With Endicott leading 19-10, the hosts rattled off four consecutive points, including kills from Ava Goodemote and Abramaitys and a service ace from Dresback. The Golden Bears briefly halted the run on a service error before Endicott closed the set with a kill from Batek and another ace from Abramaitys, taking the opener 25-11.

Second Set — Western New England 25, Endicott 14

• Western New England delivered an immediate response to begin the second set, racing out to a 6-0 lead behind an outstanding service rotation from Charlei Henkel. Henkel recorded two service aces during the run, while Barber added a kill and the Golden Bears capitalized on several Endicott attack errors. The Gulls called an early timeout but could not immediately stop the momentum.
• The Golden Bears continued to dictate the pace, extending their advantage to 8-1 following another Barber kill. Ellie Ross added a kill to make it 9-3, while Katie Garland later contributed a kill off an assist from Stauss to give Western New England a 10-4 advantage.
• Endicott attempted to chip away at the deficit, but Western New England maintained control through the middle portion of the set. Kills from Morgan Bonin and Barber helped the Golden Bears move ahead 14-9 before Barber added another finish and Ross teamed with Robayo for a block to extend the lead to 16-10.
• The Gulls briefly reduced the deficit to 17-13, but Western New England answered with another productive offensive stretch. Henkel recorded a kill to make it 19-13, and an Endicott attack error extended the advantage to 20-14.
• With Laney Melvin at the service line, the Golden Bears closed the set in emphatic fashion, scoring the final five points. Melvin delivered a service ace, Garland added a kill, and Barber finished the frame with consecutive kills to secure a 25-14 victory, evening the match at one set apiece.

Third Set — Endicott 25, Western New England 16

• Western New England carried some of its second-set momentum into the third frame, taking an early 2-0 lead behind a kill from Henkel and an Endicott attack error. Barber added a kill to put the Golden Bears ahead 3-2, but the Gulls answered with four consecutive points to take a 6-3 advantage.
• Endicott maintained its narrow lead through the early stages, although Western New England continued to battle. Barber contributed another kill to make the score 8-5, while a pair of Gulls errors kept the Golden Bears within striking distance at 9-7.
• The Golden Bears received a block from Garland and Bonin to cut the deficit to 10-8 before Endicott pushed its lead to 13-8. Western New England responded with three consecutive points, including two kills from Barber, trimming the margin to 13-11 and prompting an Endicott timeout.
• The Gulls emerged from the stoppage with a decisive six-point run, stretching their advantage to 19-11 behind kills from Dresback and Jacquelyn Marion. Western New England called timeout during the surge but could not immediately reverse the momentum.
• Trailing 22-13, the Golden Bears mounted a late response. Barber recorded a kill, Ross followed with a service ace, and an Endicott attack error brought Western New England within six at 22-16. The Gulls answered with the final three points to take the third set 25-16 and move ahead 2-1 in the match.

Fourth Set — Endicott 25, Western New England 13

• Endicott opened the fourth set with four consecutive points, including a kill from Marion and a service ace from Hadley Helenbrook. After Western New England got on the scoreboard, the Gulls added five more points to establish a 9-1 advantage.
• The Golden Bears responded with three consecutive points, beginning with a kill from Robayo and followed by a Barber finish and a combined block from Robayo and Barber. The run reduced the deficit to 9-4, giving Western New England an opportunity to regain momentum.
• Endicott answered with two points before Barber delivered another kill to make the score 11-5. Western New England continued to battle, receiving another Barber kill at 13-7 and consecutive kills from Bonin to narrow the margin to 14-9.
• The Gulls took control of the closing stages with a six-point scoring run, extending their advantage from 14-9 to 20-9. Sienna Sellitto recorded two service aces during the stretch, while Marion, Helenbrook and Dresback contributed kills to put Endicott within five points of the match victory.
• Western New England continued competing in the final moments, receiving another kill from Barber and a service ace from Ross to bring the score to 23-13. Endicott answered with consecutive kills from Abramaitys to close out the fourth set 25-13 and secure the 3-1 conference victory.

Key Performances:

• Léa Barber: Led all players with a match-high 17 kills on 60 total attacks while adding 12 digs and one block assist. Barber finished with a team-high 17.5 points and played an instrumental role in Western New England's second-set victory, recording seven kills in the frame, including the final two points.
• Evelyn Taylor: Anchored Western New England's defensive effort with a team-high 15 digs while contributing two assists and one service ace. Taylor's work in the back row helped the Golden Bears finish with 68 digs as a team.
• Charlei Henkel: Recorded 14 digs, two kills and two service aces. Henkel was particularly effective at the service line in the second set, helping Western New England establish a 6-0 lead with two early aces.
• Madison Stauss: Led the Golden Bears with 11 assists while adding six digs. Stauss helped distribute the offense throughout the match, including several important assists during Western New England's second-set victory.
• Ellie Ross: Contributed 10 assists, four digs, two service aces and two block assists. Ross played an important role in the Golden Bears' offensive distribution and defensive efforts throughout the match.
• Endicott finished with a 53-29 advantage in kills while hitting .248 as a team compared with Western New England's .084 hitting percentage. The Gulls also held an 11-6 advantage in service aces, although the Golden Bears finished with more digs, 68-64.
• Western New England's defensive effort was highlighted by three players reaching double figures in digs. Taylor led the way with 15, followed by Henkel with 14 and Barber with 12. Offensively, Barber accounted for 17 of the team's 29 kills, while Stauss and Ross combined for 21 of Western New England's 27 assists.
• For Endicott, Lincoln Abramaitys led the offensive attack with 11 kills and three service aces, while Ava Grace Dresback added 10 kills on a .346 hitting percentage and five block assists. Francesca Batek and Jacquelyn Marion each contributed nine kills, while Sienna Sellitto directed the offense with a match-high 31 assists and three service aces. Tess Bartholomew paced the Gulls defensively with 28 digs.

Up Next:

Western New England returns home Saturday, Oct. 24, when the Golden Bears welcome Wentworth Institute of Technology to Springfield for a noon Conference of New England matchup.