Box Score

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Junior Olivia Lathrop racked up 14 kills to pace Western New England University in a 3-1 victory over the University of New England in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's volleyball action on Saturday afternoon (Sep. 27) at the Harold Alfond Forum. Set scores were 25-20, 13-25, 25-15, and 25-18.

The triumph was the fifth in-a-row for the Golden Bears, who improve to 13-4 and 2-0 in CCC matches. The Nor'easters (1-1 CCC) dip back to 3-9 overall.

Lathrop received offensive support from senior Kasey Cameron with eight kills and three aces, as well as a team-high 15 digs. Classmate Grace Kucharski also contributed three aces while picking up 13 digs. The Western New England attack was fueled by a combined 33 assists from sophomores Jessica Sincero and Jenna Leuck.

Big Blue was paced by senior Leah Janelle with 12 kills and nine digs. Sophomore Grayson Szczepaniak added 11 winners, and first-year Courtney Lambrese chipped in with nine kills while sharing in four blocks with sophomore Erika Sawicki. Sophomore Nikki Mathewson registered a match-best 17 digs. Senior Rachel McGahie and junior Jade Williams finished with 11 digs apiece, and McGahie tallied three aces. First-year Brooke Gibbons posted 32 assists.

Things were close early on in the opening frame before UNE pulled out to a 14-10 cushion. WNE drew even at 15-all, and play was still tied (19-19) until the visitors took six of the final seven points to secure the set.

In the 2nd, the Nor'easters quickly turned a 2-1 deficit into a 14-4 lead and never looked back on the way to a 12-point decision. The hosts hit .476 in the stanza with zero attacking errors.

The Golden Bears got off to a 6-1 start in the 3rd, only to see Big Blue level the set at 12-all. Western New England regained control with an 8-0 run, which included three of Lathrop's five kills in the period.

In the 4th, the score was locked at 10-10 when WNE took advantage for good with a 5-0 spurt. UNE closed to with one (17-16), but the Golden Bears closed out the match with eight of the next 10 points.

Both squads get back to work on Tuesday (7 p.m.) -- Western New England visits Eastern Connecticut State University in non-league action, and the Nor'easters head for Gordon College to continue their CCC schedule.