Golden Bears Finish Strong in 3-1 Win Over Connecticut College

Skibinski leads the way with 16 kills (.464), Chiodini tallies 25 digs 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 4, 2016) – The Western New England University volleyball team recovered from an opening set loss to earn a 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-19) victory over Connecticut College this evening in non-conference action at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

Top Performers
• Junior middle hitter Carly Skibinski (Milford, N.J.) led the way for the Golden Bears with a team-high 16 kills while making just three errors in 28 total attempts (.464). Skibinski also totaled four blocks (one solo) and finished with 18.5 points.
• Senior setter Jenna Leuck (Dumont, N.J.) recorded 38 assists, 16 digs and two block assists.
• Junior outside hitter Emmaline Chiodini (Saint Louis, Mo.) tallied a match-high 25 digs and ten kills.

• Sophomore outside hitter Jenny Kellogg (Los Altos, Calif.) paced Connecticut College with 16 kills, 14 digs and three block assists.  
• Junior right side hitter Sam Hunter (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) posted a double-double with ten kills and 13 digs.

Match Review
• After hitting just .050 with eight attack errors in an opening set loss (25-21), the Golden Bears raced out to a 6-2 lead in the second frame. Western New England eventually extended its advantage to ten (13-3) and led by as many as 13 (20-7) before evening the match with a 25-14 victory.
• The third set remained close until late, when a kill by Skibinski sparked a 4-0 run as the Golden Bears turned a two-point lead (18-16) into a six-point cushion (22-16). Western New England closed out the frame to pull ahead 2-1 in the match.
• A pair of kills by Kellogg and several Golden Bear errors allowed the Camels to open the fourth set on a 7-0 run, but Western New England utilized an 8-0 run to pull ahead 10-9. The back and forth frame featured eight ties after that point, including 19-19, before the Golden Bears sealed the set with a 6-0, match-ending run.

Notes
• Skibinski has totaled 35 combined kills with just seven errors over her last two matches. She has recorded 10+ kills in four of the last five matches and six of seven overall.
• Leuck's 38-assist effort is her sixth 30+ assist performance this season. She also turned in her seventh double-double (10+ assists, 10+ digs) of 2016 tonight.
• Western New England snapped its longest losing streak of the season (three matches) with tonight's victory.

Up Next
Western New England (10-6) will be right back in action tomorrow night at 7 p.m., as the Golden Bears welcome Nichols to the Alumni Healthful Living Center for a CCC contest. Connecticut College (7-6) hosts Amherst on Friday night in NESCAC play.