Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Fifth-seeded Western New England University fell behind by two sets but turned things around to knock off No. 4 University of New England, 3-2, in first round action of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Volleyball Championship played Tuesday evening (Nov. 5) at the Harold Alfond Forum. Set scores were 23-25, 16-25, 25-11, 27-25, and 15-9.

The Golden Bears (22-8) move on to face top-seeded Roger Williams University on Thursday (7 p.m.).

With UNE ahead 2-0 and play level at 10-10 in the 3rd frame, Western New England came alive and executed a 15-1 run to get on the board. Seniors Maureen Pollet and Devyn Frank combined for five of their 10 kills in the set during the closing stretch, in addition to a pair of solo blocks and two block assists.

The 4th stanza saw 15 ties and just once the margin reached as high as four (9-5 WNE) as the teams battled back-and-forth. Pollet saved a match-point with her 13th kill of the night to even the score at 24-all, and moments later a UNE service error followed by a fourth ace in the session from WNE junior Grace Kucharski forced a deciding set.

After the Golden Bears assumed an 8-3 cushion in the 5th, five of the next six points went to the Nor'easters to reduce the deficit to one (9-8). However, WNE chalked up four more winners before a block from Pollet and Frank sealed the match and completed the comeback.

Pollet paced the visitors with 14 kills, while Frank added 10 and junior Kasey Cameron chipped in nine kills to go with 16 digs. Kucharski totaled 17 digs, and junior Kendra Ouimette registered 15 digs and a match-high five aces. First-years Jenna Leuck and Jessica Sincero went for 21 and 16 assists, respectively.

Big Blue (14-10) received a match-best 18 kills and three solo blocks from senior Angie Brunette. First-year Grayson Szczepaniak and junior Leah Janelle had 23 kills (12 and 11) in support of the attack which was guided by 38 assists from senior Maria Kuehl. Kuehl was all over the court defensively, as well, amassing a career-high 29 digs to lead all players. Classmate Kirsta Adie (20), Janelle (14), and first-year Nikki Mathewson (10) were also very active keeping plays going with digs.

Early in the 3rd set, Kuehl notched assist number 23 on the night to reach the career milestone of 3,000.

The opening two frames went to the hosts, as Szczepaniak put down back-to-back winners at 23-all to clinch the 1st, and a 6-1 spurt at 13-12 gave the UNE enough separation en route to the 2nd.