Box Score SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 16, 2026) – The Western New England women's volleyball team battled the visiting Owls of Westfield State University through five sets Wednesday inside the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center, dropping its home opener in a five-set thriller, 3-2. 

Records:

• Western New England: 3-4
• Westfield State University: 3-5

How It Happened:

Set One:

• The Golden Bears opened the match with an early 8-3 advantage, using kills from Léa Barber and Charlei Henkel before Laney Melvin added three consecutive service aces to push WNE in front, 15-7.
• Westfield State responded with a four-point stretch to close the gap, but Western New England continued to find answers offensively behind Barber, Henkel and Brianna Manes to maintain control of the opening frame.
• WNE reached set point at 24-15 following a Melvin service ace, and after the Owls rallied for three more points, Barber finished the set with a kill from Madison Stauss to give the Golden Bears a 25-18 victory and a 1-0 match lead. WNE hit .138 as a team in the opening set, producing eight kills. Westfield State dropped down ten kills, but had six errors at the net.

Set Two:

• Westfield State answered in the second set, taking an early 6-4 lead before the Golden Bears battled back behind kills from Barber and Henkel to remain within striking distance.
• WNE pulled even at nine before Evelyn Taylor delivered back-to-back service aces, helping the Golden Bears move ahead 11-10. Westfield State, however, responded with a five-point run to establish a 15-10 advantage.
• The Golden Bears continued to battle, trimming the deficit to 16-14 and later to 22-20, but Westfield State held off the comeback and closed the set, 25-20, to even the match at one set apiece. The back-and-forth set saw WNE drop 12 kills and hit .122 for the set, while the Owls were dominant, hitting .237 and grabbing 13 kills. 

Set Three:

• Western New England came out strong in the third set, using kills from Henkel, Morgan Bonin, Ellie Ross, and Barber to build a 10-5 lead, following an ace from Laney Melvin.
• The third set featured multiple big runs by both teams, with WSU closing the cap with the Blue and Gold ahead 18-9, ripping off four straight, before WNE settled in to finish the set, following a Hilarie Porcaro ace.
• Westfield State made a late push, but WNE reached set point at 24-15 and finished the frame when a Westfield State service error gave the Golden Bears a 25-20 victory and a 2-1 match lead. WNE hit .152 for the set, dropping 14 kills. The Owls had just six kills in the third set to trail overall in the match.

Set Four:

• Westfield State jumped in front early in the fourth set, building a 6-3 advantage before WNE answered with kills from Henkel and Barber to get within one point.
• The teams flip-flopped points, trading ten straight points before Westfield ripped off five of the next six points to take a 19-13 lead over the Golden Bears, taking advantage of attacking errors from the Blue and Gold.
• WNE pulled within 24-19 late, but Westfield State secured the set with the next point, taking the frame 25-19 and forcing a decisive fifth set. WNE had an additional 14 kills in the fourth set, but nine errors pushed them back, seeing Westfield State drop in 12 kills and hit .229 as a team.

Set Five:

• The deciding set remained tightly contested from the outset, with the teams trading points before Westfield State established a 7-4 lead, grabbing five straight points overall in the set. 
• The Golden Bears continued to stay within striking distance, tying the set at 11-11 following an Ellie Ross service ace. An attack error at 13-12 in favor of the Owls got WNE back even at 13, with two points left to play in the match to decide a winner. 
• Westfield State scored three of the final four points to reach match point, including the final two on kills from Lauren Carnes to come away with the 3-2 match victory.

Key Performances:

• Léa Barber and Charlei Henkel led the Golden Bears with 16 kills apiece, while Morgan Bonin added 10 kills and hit .259 for the match. Henkel also recorded four service aces for WNE. 
• Laney Melvin provided a strong serving performance with five aces, while Evelyn Taylor added two aces. 
• Hilarie Porcaro paced the Golden Bear defense with 26 digs, while Barber and Taylor each added 12. Stauss and Ross split the setting duties with 21 assists apiece, and WNE finished with 54 kills and 15 service aces as a team.
• Westfield State was led offensively by Lauren Carnes, who recorded 18 kills and 20 digs, while Madison Thibault added 11 kills. Randi Reid finished with 43 assists and eight digs for the Owls.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears return to action Friday, September 18, traveling to the University of Saint Joseph for a 6:00 PM non-conference match.