DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols women's volleyball team defeated Fisher in straight sets (25-23, 25-15, 25-13) on Thursday, September 1 at the Nichols Athletics Center, opening its season in the win column. The Bison improve to 2-0 in season-debuts under the reign of second-year head coach Casey Fitzpatrick.
 
Nichols jumped out to a 6-2 lead early in the first set with help from freshman Sydney Ball, who provided two service aces in that span. Fisher responded with a run of their own, flipping the script and regaining a 8-6 lead that wouldn't be snapped until the sophomore tandem of Luna Colozzo and Ryley Plourde combined on a block to even the set at 11-apiece.
 
Colozzo and Plourde's block was part of a 6-0 Bison run that put the home side up 15-11 in the middle of the first frame. The Falcons once again proved they wouldn't go down without a fight in the first, as they rattled off four-straight points to tie the match at 15-all.
 
Fisher would match the Bison on the scoreboard four more times before Ball landed two kills to pull away and seal the first set, 25-23.
 
Late into the second set, thanks to a well-balanced offensive attack, the Bison had compiled an 18-6 lead, forcing the visitors to call their final timeout of the frame. Later, junior Liz Diorio's second service ace of the set nailed down a 25-15 triumph.
 
The Bison popped out to an 11-4 lead in the third set and never looked back, en route to a 25-13 set three win, securing the sweep.
 
Nichols hit at a .256 clip on the match, while limiting the Falcons to a hitting percentage of .052. Junior Haylee Granato boosted the Bison by adding nine kills, hitting at .643 on the night.
 
The Bison return to the friendly confines of the Nichols Athletics Center on Labor Day, Monday, September 5 for a doubleheader with Lesley, with the first contest slated for 4 p.m.