DUDLEY, MASS. -The Nichols College women's volleyball team put up a tough fight against the U.S. Coast Guard Academy but came up short, falling 3-0 (8-25, 17-25, 14-25) in a non-conference match Tuesday afternoon.

With the defeat, the Bison dropped to 3-8 on the season, while the Bears improved to 6-2.

Seniors Mairead Frost (5), Maille Ianniruberto (4), and Kya Burdier (3) led the Nichols offense. Graduate student Ruby St. Onge contributed on both sides of the ball, dishing out 11 assists and recording six digs. Burdier and sophomore Gabrielle McKayle anchored the net with two blocks apiece, while junior Elizabeth Mullen paced the defense with a team-high nine digs.

The Coast Guard controlled the opening set, quickly finding their rhythm and cruising to a 25-8 win to go up 1-0. Nichols struck first in the second set, capitalizing on the Bear's errors and gaining momentum with a Frost kill assisted by St. Onge. The teams traded points throughout, with Frost, Jhudny Pierre, and Alyssa Morse tallying kills for the Bison. Nichols battled to stay within reach, but a late five-point surge by Coast Guard sealed the set, 25-17.

Down 2-0, the Bison looked to shift momentum in the third set, but the Bears opened with three straight points. Despite Nichols trading points early, Coast Guard pulled away with a decisive 9-3 run before closing out the set 25-14 to complete the sweep.

The Bison return home for the Bison September Tri-Match on Saturday, September 20, where they will face Westfield State University at 11:00 a.m. and SUNY Delhi at 3:00 p.m.