University of New England Athletics

BEVERLY, Mass. -- Third-seeded Endicott College built a two-set cushion but needed a 10-3 run to close out the 4th frame and secure a 3-1 win (25-11, 25-17, 20-25, 25-16) against No.6 University of New England in the opening round of the 2025 Conference of New England (CNE) Women's Volleyball Championship at MacDonald Gymnasium on Tuesday night (Nov. 11).

The Gulls (16-11), who had swept the Nor'easters just last week in the regular season meeting, now move on to Thursday's semifinals at No.2 Roger Williams University. [Championship Central]

UNE's 2025 campaign concludes with a 12-13 overall record.

Things were 5-5 in the early going of the 1st set, and the visitors were ahead 6-4 at the start of the 2nd, but Endicott limited UNE to -.090 hitting accuracy during those sessions and pulled away to a comfortable lead. Reigning CNE Player of the Year Hadley Helenbrook operated at a .571 clip and racked up 14 of her match-best 21 kills to power the hosts to the advantage.

However, the first six points of the 3rd went for the Nor'easters, including three blocks where Josie Eliot factored in the wall. UNE maintained a healthy lead for much of the stanza, as there were only four serves with the margin at less than three points. Soon after the Gulls clawed back to get within 19-18, Eliot knocked down two kills (points 23 and 24) to hold the edge for her side and extend the match. The Nor'easters connected at a .167 attack efficiency during the period, registered six of their 13.5 blocks, and received seven digs from Kelsey Bradshaw to help keep the EC offense from finding rhythm (while Helenbrook was in the negative).

Endicott responded with a 10-1 start to the 4th, only to see UNE chip into the deficit with eight of the next 10 (12-9). The spread was just two (15-13) when the hosts began to separate themselves. Ava Grace Dresback came up with eight kills in the set for EC.

Helenbrook finished with a .300 hitting rate to go with eight digs. Dresback supplied 18 kills with 10 digs and four aces. Hannah Maguire framed 48 assists and had 11 digs, while Abby Downs collected 26 digs to lead the Gulls in their defensive effort.

Hannah Nowell notched nine kills, eight digs, and had a hand in six blocks for the Nor'easters. Kailyn Reilly tallied five kills and was present for eight blocks, while Eliot and Ellijah Hanley each had a piece of five rejections. Abby Zamora -- the most recent CNE Rookie of the Week -- totaled 24 assists and nine digs. Bradshaw wrapped the evening with 17 digs.