BRISTOL, R.I. – The New England College women's volleyball team opened their 2024 season with a hard-fought straight-set loss to Western Connecticut State University at the Roger Williams University Invitational on Friday afternoon at the Campus Rec Center Gymnasium in Bristol, Rhode Island.
THE BASICS
Score: Western Connecticut 3, New England College 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-11)
Records: Pilgrims 0-1 | Wolves 1-0
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Down by as much as 13 in the first set, the 'Grims rallied, claiming ten of the next thirteen points, a run that included three kills by NEC graduate middle-blocker Tatiana Sampson (Kailua, Hawaii). But the Wolves would close out set-point with a kill from freshman middle-blocker Ava Gardner (New York, N.Y.).
- The second set was hotly contested, with the NEC pulling to within one at 15-14 after a kill from sophomore outside hitter Samantha Winters (Dover, N.H.). But West Conn would go on a 7-2 run to pull away, taking the second with a 25-19 score. The Pilgrims were unable to contend after that.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Winters led the Pilgrims with seven kills, matching a career-high for a match. The second-year outside also posted five digs.
- West Conn sophomore outside hitter Julia Stoliker (Red Hook, N.Y.) led the Wolves with six kills, 13 digs and two service aces.
- NEC sophomore setter Alexandra Seijas (Fort Myers, Fla.) finished with nine set assists and seven digs.
- West Conn graduate outside hitter Krysti McDonald (Fishkill, N.Y.) and senior middle-blocker Helen Megson (Lebanon, Conn.) both posted team-highs of seven kills apiece.
- Sampson finished with six kills for the Pilgrims.
UP NEXT
- NEC is back on the court on Saturday when they play the Rams of Suffolk University and the host Hawks of RWU, those matches coming at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively.
