NEW LONDON, CT- The New England College women's volleyball team competed in a double header against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foes in the Lasers of Lasell University and the Mainers of Mitchell college. 

THE BASICS 

Score: New England College 0, Lasell University 3 (14-25, 16-25, 21-25) 

Records: Pilgrims 7-9, 2-4 GNAC | Lasers 16-1, 7-0 GNAC 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Game 1 

• Dominate outing displayed by the Lasers in the first set as they went on two early runs that put them up,7-1 making difficult for NEC to respond. Six attack errors and three ball handling errors were committed by the Pilgrims that didn't help their case. By the time NEC gathered seven points of their own Lasell had accounted for 18. From that point on the Lasers took the first set, 14-25. 
• The second set was a bit of a better outing but had their moments of difficulty getting situated as they were down, 7-15. Sophomore outside hitter Lily-Anne Heywood (Derry, N.H.) and Junior outside hitter Torrance Robertson (Bakersfield, Calif) did all they could in acquiring two kills respectively between the both of them wasn't enough as the Lasers took that one, 16-25.  
• NEC put together their closet set of the match as they looked to gain momentum tying early on, 7-7 benefiting from three service errors. After that Robertson and Heywood recorded two kills but shortly the Lasers rallied back into the set with a 4-0 run, 9-11. The lead began to dwindle away after finding a way to tie things up again, 18-18 after two successful service aces from Lasell junior outside hitter Makenna McCool (Loomis, Calif.) allowed for the team to take control winning the set and winning the match. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Robertson led the team in kills with five while sophomore setter Aurora Gutierrez-Macias (El Pase, TX) had nine assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Krissy Cardello (Peabody, Mass.) and Gutierrez-Macias both had seven digs. 
• Lasers McCool recorded 16 kills, sophomore setter Sydney Katz (Ridgefield, Conn.) put together 28 assists, and sophomore libero Maddie Caro (Chula Vista, Calif.) led with eight digs. 

Game 2  

Score: New England College 1, Mitchell College 3 (24-26, 25-16, 21-25, 19-25) 

Records: Pilgrims 7-10, 2-5 GNAC | Mainers 6-10, 4-5 GNAC 

HOW IT HAPPENED  

• The first set of the match started off with Mariners taking a commanding lead, 15-6 with seven of the points gifted by NEC. Kills by Robertson, Heywood, and freshman middle blocker Jamie Hansen (New Underwood, S.D) got them back into the game tying things up, 20-20 but proved to not be enough as Mitchell took a 5-0 run to secure a win, 24-26. 
• As the second set commenced this one Mainers looked to pick up where they left off scoring the first five points, 5-0. Afterwards NEC started to put together scoring runs to get themselves back into the set with them going up by five points after their longest one was recorded, 18-13. Proving to be much to handle the Mariners had no answer for the Pilgrims down the stretch allowing for them to them to take the set, 25-16. 
• In the third and fourth set Mitchell came with vengeance trying to get back into match doing exactly that and took the last two sets claiming victory on the afternoon over the Pilgrims.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Robertson finished with 11 kills, Gutierrez-Macias had 17 assists, and Cardello gathered 20 digs. 
• Mitchell Senior defensive specialist Alison Blum (Riverside, R.I.) was the player that shined the brightest with 17 kills and 29 digs.  

UP NEXT 

• The Pilgrims will be back in Bridges to face Colby-Sawyer College on Wednesday, October 11 at 6:00 PM. 
• Lasell will host Emmanuel College Wednesday, October 11 at 7:00 PM. 
• Mitchell will be home to compete against Johnson & Wales Wednesday, October 11 at 7:00 PM 

For continuing coverage of New England College Athletics, visit athletics.nec.edu and follow the Pilgrims on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.