WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- The University of New England women's volleyball team opened the 31st Annual Crabtree Invitational at Geissler Gymnasium Friday evening with a 3-0 victory over Worcester State University, topping the Lancers by set scores of 25-14, 25-17, and 25-17. The event is being hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University.

The Nor'easters improve to 6-10 on the year with the fourth win in their last five outings, while WSU has dropped five in-a-row and sits at 7-12 overall.

UNE plays Wheaton College (Mass.) later tonight (approx. 8 p.m.), and both teams continue on Saturday with two matches apiece.

For Big Blue, sophomore Angie Brunette (North Andover, Mass.) and junior Paige Curran (Chelmsford, Mass.) combined for 25 kills and three blocks to lead the scoring, while Curran tallied an additional four aces. Senior Abby Davis (Somersworth, N.H.) added eight kills to go with 11 digs. Sophomore setter Maria Kuehl (Middleton, N.H.) dug out a team-best 16 attacked balls, and helped generate the offense with 29 assists.