Women’s Volleyball Falls to Keene and Rivier at Dearing Classic

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State junior Lauren Carnes (Westfield, Mass.) totaled 20 kills across a pair of volleyball matches at the Dearing Classic as the Owls dropped a pair of games against Keene State and Rivier from Springfield, Mass. on Saturday morning and afternoon.

The Owls opened day two of the Dearing Classic with a four set loss versus Keene, then lost in straight sets to Rivier to complete the weekend tournament.

GAME 1 vs Keene State (L – 24-26, 17-25, 25-21, 23-25):

The first match of the day for Westfield was closely contested with Keene securing a pair of two point wins in bookend sets.

Set one comprised of 14 ties and seven lead changes between both sides. Keene State would claw out four points in a six-point span to draw to set point which Westfield would temporarily fend off after consecutive kills from Emma Nihill (Chandler, Ariz.) and Hanna Nihill (Chandler, Ariz.) tied the set at 24 all. However, Colleen Fraser would push Keene to a set one win with back-to-back slams to put Keene ahead one set to none. 

In the second set, a six-point scoring burst doomed Westfield, eventually doubling up Westfield 16-8 where Keene would maintain at least a six-point advantage for the remainder of the set.

Westfield got out to a 15-10 lead in set number three before Keene would mount another scoring run to tie the set. Siobhan Meyer (Farmingville, N.Y.) gave Westfield the lead back after a kill, then an ace from Allie Hill (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) and an error from Keene put Westfield ahead 18-15. Later in the set, Carnes delivered an ace, then after an attacking error sent Westfield to set point, Meyer blocked a return shot at the net to extend the match to a fourth set.

Westfield caught fire to begin set four, tallying six of eight points featuring kills from four different players for a 12-6 lead. The two teams then exchanged scoring runs with Keene scoring seven of the next eight points to trim the Westfield lead to one point.

Four consecutive points followed from Westfield capped by a kill and block from Meyer to give Westfield a 17-12 lead. Keene still had one imposing run left in them however, which began after a Carnes kill made it a 21-17 contest. Eight of the final ten points of the set went in Keene's favor, ultimately closing out the match.

E. Nihill (12 kills) and Carnes (11 kills) each reached double figure kills. Morgan Dority (Walpole, Mass.) garnered a career-high 33 assists and added a team-leading 16 digs. Meyer collected three solo blocks.

GAME 2 vs Rivier (L – 26-24, 25-18, 25-15):

Similar to how set one went against Keene, a tight opening frame tipped in favor of the opposition. The Owls recovered after surrendering the first five points of the match by tallying six straight of their own to take the lead.

After seven ties and multiple lead changes midway through the set, the Owls trailed 23-20 before fighting back with four points to bring them on the cusp of winning the set after a kill from Carnes, who led game two with nine kills for Westfield. Unfortunately, Ali Rivera recorded three straight kills, the first to tie the set, and the final to edge the Raiders past Westfield.

Momentum stayed within the hands of the Raiders for sets two and three as Rivier won by seven- and ten-point margins to sweep the match.

Westfield's Erika Majka (Agawam, Mass.) was named to the All-Tournament team at the conclusion of the event.

Westfield State will return home to host Coast Guard on Tuesday at 6:00 P.M. as part of the home opener from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass.