WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State women's volleyball team opened the 2023 campaign with a loss against Springfield College in straight sets (25-13, 25-20, 25-12) as part of the Springfield Invitational on Friday night from Springfield, Mass.
The Owls jumped out to an early lead in the first set with Michaela O'Connor (Shrewsbury, Mass.) delivering a kill to put Westfield in front 11-5. However, the Pride responded with a furious rally of 14 unanswered points including six service aces from Ally Townsend (Hummelstown, Penn.) to make it a 19-11 Springfield advantage.
Both teams would trade points before three consecutive aces by Hailey Deguire (Schenectady, N.Y.) closed out a set one win for Springfield.
In the second set, extended scoring runs from both sides set up a tight middle frame with the Pride collecting 11-straight points to open up a 12-3 lead. The lead pushed up to 12 points and with Springfield two points away from a set victory, the Owls clawed their way back into the set beginning with a Bridgette McAndrews (Longmeadow, Mass.) slam then back-to-back aces from Allie Hill (St. Clair Shores, Mich.).
Sarah Bingham (Reno, Nev.) added a kill, then consecutive kills from Hanna Nihill (Chandler, Ariz.) slashed the deficit to seven points. Olivia Nealy (Athens, Ga.) moved Springfield to set point, but the Owls mounted three straight points to make it 24-20 before a Tori Colosimo (Fairport, N.Y.) kill gave the Pride a two-set lead.
Springfield controlled the play in the third set to eventually sweep the Owls on the match.
O'Connor led the Owls with seven kills followed by McAndrews and H. Nihill with five kills apiece. Julia Dangel-Garcia (Ashland, Mass.) added 11 assists with Hill leading all players with 14 digs.
Nealy led a balanced Springfield attack with eight of the team's 32 kills. The Pride also piled up 18 service aces in the contest with Townsend compiling ten aces.
Westfield State continues play in the Springfield Invitational with a pair of games tomorrow against Keene State (10:30 A.M.) and UMass Boston (1:00 P.M.).