WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State Owls volleyball team fell to Keene State in straight sets (25-10, 25-21, 25-16) in their home opener at the Woodward Center on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Megan Palmer (East Islip, N.Y./ East Islip) paced the Keene State offense with a match-high 10 kills and two service aces. Setter, Bailey Wilson (Moorpark, Calif./ Sierra Canyon) picked up 24 assists and six digs in the win.

Westfield scattered 13 kills on the evening, led by Brianna Starkey's (Rockland/ Rockland) four but were plagued by 25 attack errors. Defensively, Starkey and Karolyn Higgins' (Billerica/ Billerica) each posted six block assists up front while Jess Haradon (Mansfield/ Mansfield) picked up 14 digs.

Keene State received double digit dig totals from Olivia Mathieu (Derry, N.H./ Pinkerton Acad.), 11, and Riley Bunker (Simi Valley, Calif./ Simi Valley), 10, while Niamh Dodd (Mahopac, N.Y./ Mahopac) added eight kills.

Westfield extended a 15-7 lead in the second set but were unable to slow down a 15-3 Keene run to secure the win.

Both teams return to action this weekend on Friday, Sept. 7 and Saturday, Sept. 8, Westfield for the Trinity College Tournament and Keene State competes in the Granite State Challenge Tournament.