Volleyball Dominates Nichols, Picking up First CCC Win

DUDLEY, Mass. (September 21, 2022) – The Western New England women's volleyball team earned their first CCC win on the season after traveling to Nichols College where they defeated the Bison 3-0.

Records:

• Western New England: 9-4, 1-0 CCC
• Nichols College: 9-3, 0-1 CCC

How It Happened:

The first set was a close match up between the Golden Bears and the Bison. The two teams traded off taking leads and tying up the score. Neither held a major lead. Nichols took a three-point lead after the score was tied up at 13-13, but WNE responded with a four-point run from two kills, one from Sarah Scott and the other from Rachel Critz, a service ace from Scott, and a bad set the other way. The Bison tied it back up on the next play, but the Golden Bears hit another combo of two kills, Alissa Hawes and Liz Long, and an ace from Zoe Bozzay. They had gained a late lead, 20-17, and Nichols had to fight to come back. The scoring went back and forth, but with WNE at set point, Critz put another kill down to close out one 25-22.

The Golden Bears gained a lead early in the second set. Hailey Sell served an ace to start it off and then the Bison had an attack error. Yemayma Molina, Scott, and Hawes all picked up kills. WNE had an 5-2 advantage. Nichols brought it within one until WNE had a 5-0 run, picking up a six-point lead 12-6. The Bison had to battle for a chance to stay in it, they got within three after a 4-0 run of their own, score 15-12, but the Golden Bears with great team play had 6-0 spirt bringing their lead to 21-12. Nichols had a few small series of points that went their way, but the gap was too much for them to stop WNE who finished set two 25-18 with match point.

The bison started with the advantage in set three with 3-0 start. The Golden Bears fantastically answered with a 3-0 run and a 7-0 run with six kills and three aces, 10-4. The Golden Bears kept capitalizing on their lead, they never let the Bison score more than a consecutive three points in a row while they kept scoring. Nichols did not have an answer and the Golden Bears went on to win set three and carry out the game win 3-0 in the first CCC action for both teams.

Inside the Numbers:

• The Golden Bears ended the match with 39 kills, 31 assists, 36 digs, and one blocks while hitting .210 percent.
• The Bison ended the match with 25 kills, 25 assists, 46 digs, and one block, while hitting .081 percent
• Sarah Scott led Western New England with 10 kills, six digs, four service aces, and one assist.
• Hailey Sell contributed with 30 assists, two digs, two service aces, and two kills. Becca Mayer led the team in digs with 11.

Up Next: The Golden Bears are on the road again for their next for their next game. They are headed to Worcester State University, Thursday September 22, for a 7 p.m. start time against the Lancers.