KEENE, N.H. (September 19, 2026) – The Western New England University women's volleyball team dropped a pair of three-set matches Saturday afternoon at Keene State College, falling first to WPI before closing the day against the host Owls. The Golden Bears challenged WPI in the opening and third sets before the Engineers completed the sweep, while Western New England saved its strongest push against Keene State for the final frame, rallying to take a late 21-20 lead before the Owls escaped with a 25-23 victory to complete the sweep.

Match One: WPI 3, Western New England 0

Records:
Western New England: (3-6)
WPI: (6-4)

How It Happened

Set One – WPI 25, Western New England 22

• Western New England stayed within striking distance throughout the opening set. Charlei Henkel delivered an early kill off an Ellie Ross assist to make it 4-3 before WPI used a six-point stretch to turn a 5-5 tie into an 11-5 advantage.
• The Golden Bears chipped away at the deficit behind their defense and service game. Brianna Manes and Henkel combined on a block before Lauren Chagnon followed with an ace, cutting WPI's advantage to 14-11. Henkel later put down a kill, and Ross followed with an ace as WNE pulled within 17-14.
• Western New England continued to hang around late. Henkel, Katie Garland, Madison Stauss, Olivia Long and Manes all recorded kills as the Golden Bears remained within reach. facing set point at 24-20, Henkel produced another kill before WPI committed a setting error, bringing WNE within two at 24-22. The Engineers finally closed the frame on an Olivia Hutchinson kill for the 25-22 win.

Set Two – WPI 25, Western New England 11

• The Golden Bears traded points with the Engineers early and briefly moved ahead 5-4 when Ross delivered a service ace. Garland followed with consecutive kills to give WNE a 7-6 edge.
• WPI responded decisively. After tying the set at 7-7, the Engineers scored nine consecutive points behind the serve of Amelia Lynch, turning a one-point deficit into a 16-7 advantage. Anastasia Kelnik supplied three kills during the run while Lynch added an ace.
• Western New England was unable to generate a sustained response after the run. WPI extended its lead to 21-9 and eventually finished the frame 25-11 to take a 2-0 advantage in the match.

Set Three – WPI 25, Western New England 17

• WPI jumped in front early, but the Golden Bears answered several times. Henkel supplied two early kills, while Kendra Robayo added another as WNE stayed within 4-3. The Engineers eventually stretched the margin to 7-3 before a Garland kill and a Garland-Robayo block brought Western New England back within two.
• Western New England made its strongest move in the middle of the set. Trailing 10-7, Evelyn Taylor served consecutive aces around a Henkel kill, allowing the Golden Bears to erase the deficit and tie the score at 10. WNE drew even again at 11-11 on a WPI attacking error.
• The Engineers regained control with five straight points to move ahead 16-11. Henkel stopped the run with a kill, but WPI maintained its cushion down the stretch and completed the three-set victory.

Match Two: Keene State 3, Western New England 0

Records:
Western New England: (3-7)
Keene State College: (4-5)

How It Happened

Set One – Keene State 25, Western New England 15

• Keene State established the early advantage, scoring the first three points before Western New England began working its way into the set. A Kendra Robayo-Charlei Henkel block brought WNE within 3-2, while kills from Henkel, Olivia Long and Brianna Manes kept the Golden Bears within range through the middle portion of the frame.
• After Keene State stretched its lead to 13-8, Henkel delivered back-to-back kills and the Owls followed with an attacking error, trimming the deficit to 13-11. That proved to be WNE's closest push of the latter stages.
• The Owls answered with five consecutive points to move ahead 18-11 and regained control of the set. Western New England continued to get production from Henkel and Long, but Keene State closed out a 25-15 victory.

Set Two – Keene State 25, Western New England 17

• Keene State raced out to a 4-0 lead behind the serve of Bella Bacon, who recorded consecutive aces during the opening run. Western New England responded rather than allowing the Owls to immediately pull away. Henkel and Robayo supplied kills, and consecutive Katie Garland kills brought the Golden Bears within 7-6.
• WNE remained within one at 9-8 following a Manes kill, but Keene State began creating separation from there. The Owls moved ahead 14-9 and later used another run to turn a 16-12 advantage into a 20-12 lead.
• The Golden Bears made one final push late. Henkel put down a kill before Taylor recorded an ace and Manes and Garland teamed for a block, cutting the score to 23-16. Garland added another kill at 24-16, but Keene State answered on the ensuing point to take the set, 25-17.

Set Three – Keene State 25, Western New England 23

• Western New England produced its best set of the match in the finale. Keene State held an early 9-4 advantage, but the Golden Bears continued to answer, getting kills from Abby Krulis, Hilarie Porcaro and Robayo while gradually working back into the frame.
• The comeback began to take shape with WNE trailing 15-9. A Keene State attacking error, a setting error and a Robayo kill cut the margin to 15-12. The Golden Bears later pulled within 16-15 when Taylor delivered a service ace.
• Keene State repeatedly tried to create separation, but WNE kept answering. Henkel tied the set at 18-18 with a kill, added another to make it 19-19 and struck again to even the score at 20. Deana Baez followed with a service ace, giving the Golden Bears their first lead of the set at 21-20.
• The teams traded points through a 23-23 tie, setting up the tightest finish of Western New England's day. Keene State moved to match point on a Bella Bacon kill before closing the set 25-23 with a service ace to complete the sweep.

Key Performances:

• Henkel was a consistent part of the Western New England attack throughout both matches, producing several important kills during WNE's comeback attempts against WPI before playing a central role in the Golden Bears' third-set rally against Keene State. Against the Owls, Henkel recorded three kills during the late stretch that helped WNE erase a six-point deficit and eventually take a 21-20 lead.
• Taylor also made an impact from the service line in both contests. Her consecutive aces helped Western New England erase a 10-7 deficit against WPI in the third set, while another ace against Keene State pulled the Golden Bears within one during their final-set comeback. Baez later supplied the ace that gave WNE its 21-20 advantage against the Owls.

Up Next:

• Western New England returns to West Hartford, Conn., for its first Conference of New England matchday of the season on Wednesday, September 23, when the Golden Bears host the University of Hartford at 6 p.m.