Scott Secures CCC Kills Lead in Regular Season Finale in 3-2 Win over UNE

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 29, 2022) – The Western New England women's volleyball team celebrated their Senior Day this afternoon playing against the University of New England Nor'Easters in the last regular season CCC match-up. The Golden Bears triumphed over the Nor'Easters after five sets, 3-2.

• Western New England: 16-12, 4-5 CCC
• University of New England: 6-16, 2-7 CCC

How It Happened: An attack error started off the scoring for University of New England. A kill from Liz Long and two aces from Alissa Hawes started it up for the Golden Bears. After small runs by both sides, WNE had an impressive 10-point run with four kills and three serving aces to put them ahead by double digits, 18-6 in the first set. a four-point series for UNE cut the Golden Bears lead to eight, then two kills for WNE and an attack error gave them back their double-digit lead. The Nor'Easters forced two more points before the Golden Bears got set point. The set concluded with a kill for UNE and then a kill from the Golden Bears' Yemayma Molina, for Western New England to take one, 25-13.

Two kills for the Nor-Easters began set two. A service error got WNE on the board, and an attack error gave them point two. It was the Nor'Easters who got off to a lead in this set making the Golden Bears fight from behind to make their way back in the set. A few good volleys and back-and-forth scoring worked well in favor of UNE, being in the lead 10-6. The scoring for both teams was very even from play-to-play. There was two points for the Golden Bears and then two for the Nor'Easters. When the Golden Bears had a run of three with two kills from Sarah Scott, to tie the set 17-17, UNE went for a run of seven to gain set point, three of them being WNE attack errors. An attack error gave the Golden Bears one more point and a service error ended it for the Nor'Easters to take set two 25-18.

Errors for both teams kicked off set three. Hawes and Molina went for back-to-back kills before a serving error, and then two more kills for Molina. The Golden Bears had a 6-2 lead and then UNE tied up the set at 10-10 to continue with the competitiveness off the volleyball game so far. Scoring remained tight with ties and lead changes. A small run of four shifted the set into the hands of the Golden Bears with a score of 16-13. They continued to have runs the remainder of the set. Their last series of a kill and an ace won them set three 25-17.

It was a 2-0 start for the Nor'Easters and it was tied up immediately by the Golden Bears. UNE advanced ahead 9-6 and four attack errors put WNE in the lead by one 10-9. After another shift in the set leader, UNE with four in a row, with two aces, put them in the lead 14-11, and they held the lead until the finale of set four. The Golden Bears cut the Nor'Easters lead to two, a kill and two aces had UNE back ahead four. WNE forced two more tie games at 20 and 21, but four straight for UNE put this match into a fifth setter, 25-21.

Kills were exchanged each way before the Nor'Easters got ahead 4-2. The Golden Bears had an impressive five kill-series, two of them from Taylor Geist and another two from Scott, for them to take the set 7-4. After an attack error, another three for WNE gave them a five-point lead. Four in a row gave the Golden Bears match-point. UNE forced down another kill and then Hawes ended it with a kill of her own 15-7. Senior Sarah Scott with her play today ended up on top of the CCC in overall kill with 329, and in overall kills in conference play with 124.

Inside the Numbers:

• The Golden Bears concluded the match with 53 kills, 48 assists, 94 digs, and four blocks while hitting .149 percent.
• The Nor'Easters ended the match with 37 kills, 37 assists, 83 digs, while hitting .060 percent
• Sarah Scott led the Golden Bears with 16 kills, 24 digs, two assists, one serving ace, and one block.
• Alissa Hawes contributed with 12 kills, 23 digs, three assists, two aces, and one block.
• Taylor Geist led the team in assists with 40, and aces with five, adding seven kills and one block.

Up Next: This was the last regular season volleyball match. The Golden Bears who ranked 6^th will be on the road for the first round of the Commonwealth coast conference tournament play on Tuesday, November 1^st, against the #3 seed Wentworth Institute of technology.