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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- For the first time since 2019 when trailing by two sets, the University of New England women's volleyball team rallied for a 3-2 victory (16-25, 20-25, 25-23, 37-35, 15-13) versus Bates College on Saturday evening (Sep. 28) at Coach Beaudry's Court inside the Harold Alfond Forum. The reverse-sweep included UNE's highest-scoring set since rally scoring to 25 began in 2008.

The Nor'easters (11-3) ended a three-game skid to the Bobcats (7-4) with the result; the last meeting had been in 2018.

In the marathon 4th frame, UNE's 37 points surpassed the 35 from a 2015 match as the program's most under the current rules, and marked just the fifth time reaching at least 30 (3 set wins, 2 losses).

Bates had an early 8-3 deficit and led for the second half of the 1st stanza, and then netted four in-a-row to split a 17-all tie in the 2nd and establish a two-set cushion.

But the Nor'easters turned in a 9-2 run late in the 3rd to position themselves (24-16) to make a dent in the overall scoreboard. Hannah Nowell had three kills and a hand in two blocks during the stretch. While the Bobcats did record the next seven (24-23), including three aces from Ami Evans, Ellijah Hanley punched down the final point for UNE to extend things.

The hosts led 5-0, 14-6, and 23-13 in the 4th, only to see the following nine points fall for the visitors (23-22) -- aided by four UNE miscues. A kill by Kassidy Bradshaw gave the Nor'easters two set points (24-22), but Bates managed to force bonus volleyball. UNE had five more chances to seal the set that slipped past, while Bates looked at the match-win six times -- four of which were negated by Bobcat service errors. Nowell, who hit .455 in the session (5 kills), notched back-to-back winners to give the Nor'easters an eighth set-point (36-35), and finally UNE was able to progress to the deciding period with a Bates error.

The teams traded six spurts of three or four points in the 5th, and both sides dipped into the negative when on the attack. Nowell's second solo stuff of the contest was massive and made it 14-12 in favor of UNE [Watch], however, Evans kept the visitors alive with a kill. But the ensuing serve sailed long and capped the Nor'easter comeback.
 
Hanley topped the home team with 16 kills and Nowell contributed 11. Viktoria Pavlyuk added 10 kills and Kendall Gallaugher tacked on six (.357 hitting) with the support of Ka.Bradshaw, who put up 36 assists.

UNE turned in a season-best 12 blocks, of which Nowell and Gallagher each had a piece of six. Ka.Bradshaw joined Nowell with a pair of solo rejections and four total.

On the back end, Kelsey Bradshaw saved 20 digs, in addition to registering nine assists and cracking six aces. Ka.Bradshaw notched 18 more, while Nowell (16) and Hanley (13) also achieved double digits.

For Bates, Evans totaled 15 kills and six aces. Sofia Castiglioni and Malina Young went for 13 and 12 kills, respectively, and Skye Higashihara framed 41 assists to go with a match-high 22 digs. Sami Kim and Logan Yogi combined for another 31 digs.

Next up for the Nor'easters will be a Conference of New England (CNE) showdown at home against Gordon College on Tuesday (7 p.m.).
 

Earlier in the day: UNE 3, Westfield State 0