HENNIKER, N.H. - The New England College women's volleyball team fell at home in a non-conference matchup to Vermont State University-Castleton 3-0 on Thursday night. 

The Spartans jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage behind back-to-back service aces from Alondra Rojas. The Pilgrims quickly responded, evening the score at 5-5 following consecutives kills by junior Samantha Winters (Dover, N.H.). Both sides continued to trade points throughout the opening set. A key kill by freshman LisaRaye Placencio (Maricopa, Ariz.) gave NEC its first lead of the match at 16-15, but the Spartans answered with a service ace to level the score once again. The teams continued to exchange points, but the Spartans capitalized on a series of Pilgrims' errors to edge out a 26-24 win in the first set. 

The Spartans opened the second set with a 4-1 lead before the Pilgrims answered with a kill by Winters and a service ace from senior Kaylee Montgomery (Weare, N.H.) to close the gap to 4-3. The visitors responded with a series of kills to extend their lead, but a kill by junior Tyra Kelly (Fresno, Calif.) trimmed the lead. The Spartans continued to add pressure, extending their lead, but senior Aurora Gutierrez-Macias (El Paso, Tex.) sparked a run with three straight services aces to cut the lead to 17-13. The Pilgrims continued to chip away behind kills from Winters, Kelly, and sophomore Victoria Barragan (El Paso, Tex.), trailing by two points late in the set. Back-to-back kills from Oliva Smith and Rojas secured the 25-22 second set victory for the Spartans.  

The Spartans came out strong in the third set, taking a 6-2 lead before Montgomery and freshman Maddy Rollinson (Hamden, Conn.) responded with kills to bring NEC within three points as they trailed 7-4. A 5-0 run by the Spartans extended their lead, but a series of errors allowed for the 'Grims to chip away and close the gap to 12-10. The teams continued to exchange points, with junior Maeve Amarosa (Madbury, N.H.) and senior Jamie Hansen (New Underwood, S.D.) each contributing kills to cut the Spartans lead to 18-15. The Spartans pulled away with a late 7-0 run to take the set 25-15 and complete the 3-0 sweep over the Pilgrims.  

Winters led the offense with six kills and one service ace and Kelly followed with six kills and three digs. Gutierrez-Macias added 11 assists, four service aces, and 13 digs for the 'Grims. Senior Kristina Cardello (Peabody, Mass.) tallied six assists and 18 digs to lead the defense.  

The 'Grims will travel to Chicopee, Massachusetts on Saturday for a tri-match against Elms College and Western New England University.  

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