Scott’s 19 Kills Not Enough, Fighting Scots Best Golden Bears in Five Sets

WENHAM, Mass. (October 4, 2022) – The Western New England women's volleyball team traveled to Gordon College today for CCC play against the Fighting Scots. The Golden Bears fell in another five-set game 3-2.

Records:

• Western New England: 11-8
• Gordon College: 8-9 

How It Happened: The Golden Bears worked their way to a 4-0 to open set one starting with a service ace from Kate Lange, a couple of Gordon errors and a kill from Sarah Scott. A kill and two aces for the Fighting Scots put them back within one. Scoring was matched both ways, the Golden Bears would get three in a row and the fighting Scots would turn around and get three in a row. With it still being a two-point set, 13-11 Golden Bears, WNE bumped their lead to five after another kill, attack error, and ace combo. Gordon put a couple more kills down, but a run of eight for WNE won the set. their lead became 24-13, four of their points kills from Scott and a lot of attack errors going the other way. The fighting Scots smashed three more kills down before the set concluded on another one of their errors, 25-16.

After hitting the scoreboard first, the Golden Bears ended up trailing Gordon 3-1. A lot of volleys and scoring each way, the set was tied 6-6 and a serving error gave the Fighting Scots the advantage before the Golden Bears took their biggest lead in set two. Impressive team effort proceeding a bad set and an attack error from Gordon, Lange earned two more aces, and Taylor Geist had two kills putting them ahead 12-7. The Fighting Scots fought hard to comeback. They had a 5-point run of their own and tied the set at 14-14. A serving error broke up their run and set forth another one for WNE who led 18-14. The teams exchanged blows, putting down kills on both sides of the net. The Golden Bears trying to hold on to their lead and the Fighting Scots battling to make it an even game forced it within one point while the Golden Bears had set point. Gordon deuced it three times before the won set two 28-26, giving both teams a set a piece.

The Fighting Scots scored first due to a Golden Bear attack error, a kill from Scott had it even. Two kills from Gordon had them ahead and then three from WNE gave it back to them. Another kill for the Fighting Scots had it 4-4. Scores were exchanged for a few plays until the Golden Bears had a run of five taking them ahead 13-7. The fighting Scots rallied together again proceeding a few scores both ways and made another huge comeback in the set with a 9-0 run, taking over the game. They beat WNE 25-18 in set three and now had match point.

A bad set from the Fighting Scots and an ace from Becca Mayer earned WNE the first two scores, but a well-placed kill landed Gordon on the board who turned around and served it out of bounds. Gordon took their first set lead at 5-4 after a missed ball. WNE took back the lead after a blocking error. A hard spike and a blocking error against the Golden Bears had the Fighting Scots in the lead once again, score 9-7. They continued with putting up six more points consecutively until it was served into the net. Gordon had picked up a 13-7 advantage in set four. The Golden Bears fighting back tied the score and took a lead after various points at 17-17 with a blocking assist from Yemayma Molina and Sarah Scott. An attack error and an ace put them up two scores 18-16. WNE maintained their lead to conclude the fourth to force a set five, 25-19.

The Golden Bears starting with the momentum in the final set, gave themselves 6-2 lead. The Fighting Scots forced some points and WNE pushed the lead to 9-4. The Golden Bears fell apart in the final moments of the game, letting Gordon score a consecutive eight points to give them set point. WNE scored just two more times and the Fighting Scots closed out their CCC win defeating the Golden Bears 3-2.

Inside the Numbers:

• The Golden Bears ended the match with 49 kills, 40 assists, 53 digs, and three blocks while hitting .140 percent.
• The Fighting Scots ended the match with 55 kills, 55 assists, 51 digs, and one block, while hitting .207 percent
• Sarah Scott led Western New England with 19 kills, nine digs, three service aces, and one block.
• At the Libero, Becca Mayer led the team in digs with 18, adding two assist and two aces.
• Taylor Geist contributed with 35 assists and three kills.

Up Next: The Golden Bears remain on the road for their next game Friday, October 7, where they will be heading to Mount Holyoke College to face the Lyons for a 6 p.m. start time.