Golden Bears Drop Non-Conference Matches to Eastern Connecticut State & Smith

Skibinski matches career-high with 19 kills against Smith

WILLIMANTIC, Conn. (October 1, 2016) – The Western New England University volleyball team dropped a pair of non-conference contests today during a tri-match at Eastern Connecticut State University's Geissler Gymnasium. The Golden Bears were defeated by Eastern Connecticut State, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-16), before falling to Smith College, 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 26-24, 25-21).

Eastern Connecticut State 3, WNE 0

Top Performers
• Freshman middle hitter Kierah Parker (Middletown, Conn.) registered a team-high nine kills for the Golden Bears.
• Junior middle hitter Carly Skibinski (Milford, N.J.) added seven kills on a .250 hitting percentage.

• Senior outside hitter Adrianna Mihalek (Woodbury, Conn.) turned in an impressive performance for Eastern Connecticut State, compiling a match-best 15 kills on a .481 hitting percentage to go with ten digs.

Match Review
• Eastern Connecticut State used a 6-1 run early in the first set to turn a 4-3 edge into a 10-4 advantage. The Warriors lead never fell under three the rest of the frame.
• The home team got off to another strong start in the second set, but Western New England pulled ahead (9-6) with a 6-0 run. Eastern Connecticut State eventually tied the score at 13-13 before pulling away late to claim a 2-0 lead in the match.
• Needing a third set win to keep the contest alive, the Golden Bears kept the frame close early, trailing by just three (14-11) following a kill by Skibinski. The Warriors put together a 7-1 run, however, to open up a 21-12 lead before eventually completing the sweep.

Notes
• Parker's nine kills were her most since recording ten in her collegiate debut against Elms on September 10.
• The match pitted Western New England freshman setter Caitlyn Sibiskie (Rockfall, Conn.) against her older sister Caryn, a junior middle blocker for the Warriors.
• Western New England posted a .038 hitting percentage for the match, while Eastern Connecticut State turned in a .227 mark.

Smith 3, WNE 1

Top Performers
• Skibinski matched her career-high with 19 kills while making just four errors in 34 attempts (.441). The junior also recorded four blocks (one solo), one service ace, one dig and one assist.
• Sibiskie tallied a season-high 37 assists to go with eight digs, two kills and one block assist.
• Sophomore outside hitter Jenna Ferguson (Ellington, Conn.) finished with eight kills and eight digs.

• Freshman outside hitter Kimani Freeman (Newark, N.J.) led the way for the Pioneers, totaling 14 kills, six digs and four service aces.
• Junior Elizabeth Peay (Lebanon, Conn.) added 13 kills and three digs.

Match Review
• After dropping the opening set by two points, Western New England rebounded with a 25-20 win in the second frame, hitting a match-best .184 in the process.
• The Golden Bears were on the verge of taking a 2-1 lead in the match, as they held a commanding 24-17 advantage in the third set, but Smith put together late rally to win the frame.
• Leading 5-4 in the fourth set, the Pioneers strung together six straight points to open up an 11-4 cushion. Smith eventually extended its advantage to nine (16-7), before an 11-0 Western New England run, fueled by four kills from Skibinski, saw the Golden Bears claim an 18-16 edge. Western New England still led by two (21-19) following an attack error by Freeman, but a late Smith run sealed the 3-1 victory for the Pioneers.

Notes
• Sibiskie's 37 assists are eight-more than her previous season-high of 29, set in Western New England's 3-2 win over Colby-Sawyer on September 17.
• Junior outside hitter Emmaline Chiodini (Saint Louis, Mo.) led the Golden Bears with 12 digs.

Up Next
Western New England (9-6) returns home on Tuesday to host Connecticut College in the first of five consecutive matches at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.