Wildcats Handed Two Losses on the Day

BROOKLINE, Mass.- Eastern Connecticut State remained undefeated on the day in the host Newbury College Volleyball  Tri-Match . The host Nighthawks split for the day while Bay Path lost two with match one going to Eastern Connecticut 3-0 over Newbury; the second match had the Warriors beating the Wildcats 3-0 and then the nighthawks finished the day beating Bay Path 3-0. Bay Path's sophomore defensive specialist Kacie Bayreuther (East Lyme, Conn.) had 22 digs and freshman Arriadne Sykes (Hartford, Conn.)  finished with eight kills for the day.

Eastern Connecticut State 3, Newbury 0

Eastern Connecticut jumped out to the early one game advantage, taking the first set by a score of 25-18 however the Nighthawks were resilient. First year middle hitter Taylor Doolittle (Barneveld, N.Y.) played outstanding against a tough non-conference opponent hitting .375  with four kills while partnering with senior setter Sarah Young (Waterloo, N.Y.) to negate a potential kill from Warrior senior Danielle Bourne (Branford, Conn.) midway through the first set.

However, the Nighthawks were unable to contain Warrior senior middle hitter Katie Wilson's (Pittsburg, Calif.) explosive offense on the day. Hitting a .542 on the day, the California native notched a match-high 16 kills with just three errors on 24 attempts to lead Eastern Connecticut to the 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-13, 25-19).

Eastern Connecticut 3, Bay Path 0

After taking Eastern Connecticut took a commanding 2-0 lead, Bay Path responded in the third set, jumping out to the 10-2 lead. However, Wilson continued to dominate offensively, registering four consecutive service aces as the Warriors went on an outstanding 14-0 run to take a 16-10 lead. Eastern Connecticut never looked back as they went on to the 3-0 sweep with three set scores of 25-14.

Tallying a double-double against the Wildcats with 15 kills and 15 defensive digs, Wilson finished the afternoon with 31 kills on 46 attempts and just four errors while registering three total blocks (two solo, 1 assisted) and seven aces. Bay Path's Sykes led the Wildcats with four kills, one dig and one block assist. Bayreuther had 11 digs.

Junior outside hitter Samantha Browning (Mystic, Conn.) registered seven kills while classmate Nicki Gasch (New Fairfield, Conn.) followed up with six kills for a solid .333 attack percentage.

Newbury 3, Bay Path 0

In the third and final match of the day, Newbury opened up conference action with a 3-0 sweep of Bay Path as the Nighthawks remain perfect against the Wildcats, leading the all-time series 17-0. Touron paved the way to victory notching a match-high seven kills on 16 attempts for a .375 attack percentage while sophomore right side hitter Lauren Watson (Denver, Colo.) followed up with six kills of her own.

The duo of Touron and Watson not only got it done for offensively but defensively as well as they combined for five of the team's eight block assists against the Wildcats – including two triple blocks. Watson finished the day with three total blocks and nine kills.

Bay Path's Bayreuther led the Wildcats with a .333 hitting percentage, registering five kills on nine attempts while tallying 10 defensive digs. First year Elizabeth Haylette(Terryville, Conn.) also notched five kills on against the Nighthawks while classmate, outside hitter Katelyn Hannan (Troy, N.Y.) tied Bayreuther with 10 digs.

Newbury improves to 7-11 and 1-0 in conference against while Bay Path falls back to 6-7 and 0-1 in the NECC.