DUDLEY, MASS. - The Nichols College women's volleyball team broke even today during the Bison September Tri-Match, falling in a close 3-2 match to the visiting, Westfield State University (25-23, 15-25, 17-25, 25-17, 15-5) and sweeping the visiting, SUNY Delhi (25-14, 25-19, 25-20).

After the split, the Bison record moves to 4-9 (0-0 CNE). 

Match #1 vs Westfield State University (5-7, 0-0 MASCAC) 

Freshman Alyssa Morse put together a standout all-around performance, leading the Bison with 15 kills while hitting .250 and adding 3 service aces. She also contributed defensively with 16 digs and 3 blocks at the net. Senior Maille Ianniruberto provided a strong presence on both sides of play, recording 8 kills and a team-high 5 blocks. Graduate student Ruby St. Onge directed the offense with 24 assists and chipped in 14 digs, while senior Mairead Frost anchored the back row with a team-high 19 digs and added 3 blocks at the net. Junior Elizabeth Mullen and Freshman Brooke Partridge also added key contributions, with Mullen tallying 2 aces and Partridge 13 assists,helping fuel the Bison.

Westfield got out first, landing two early kills to set the tone for the match. The Bison responded with a thunderous block from Mairead Frost, and from there the back-and-forth began. Nichols found themselves in a hole early, trailing 14-10 as the lead steadily grew. Westfield nearly closed out the set with a comfortable 20-15 advantage, but a kill from Morse sparked an offensive barrage that fueled an 8-1 run, allowing the Bison to rally and take the frame 25-23.

The second set began in similar fashion, with the Owls racing out to a 13-4 lead. They extended their advantage to double digits and never looked back, closing the set 25-15 to even the match at 1-1.

The third set opened with both teams trading points, neither willing to give an edge. Westfield broke away after an 8-point surge pushed the score to 13-5, tilting momentum in their favor. Nichols fought back with a 6-1 run, highlighted by two kills from Kya Burdier off assists from Ruby St. Onge, but the Owls held strong. A late 7-2 run from Westfield sealed the set, giving them the 2-1 lead.

Nichols and Westfield traded points early in the fourth until a kill from Morse tied the score at 4-4 and set the tone for the Bison offense. Soon after, a block from Maille Ianniruberto and Frost sparked a 5-0 run to give Nichols an 11-8 lead. The Bison continued to surge behind Morse, who added two more kills to stretch the advantage to 18-12. Nichols stayed in control from there, and Ianniruberto closed out the set with a kill to cap a 25-17 victory and force a decisive fifth set.

Unfortunately for the Bison, the final frame was all Owls. Westfield jumped ahead 8-4 and never let up, finishing the match on a 7-1 run to secure the 15-5 set win and a 3-2 victory in the match.

Match #2 vs. SUNY Delhi (0-10, 0-0 NAC)

Morse led the attack with nine kills while also anchoring the defense with a team-high 15 digs. Burdier and Frost added eight kills apiece, with Frost making her presence felt behind the line by delivering six service aces. St. Onge paced the offense with 16 assists and chipped in three aces of her own, while Partridge contributed 11 assists and four aces to keep the Bison in rhythm. Mullen was steady defensively, collecting 13 digs to help secure the victory.

The Bison controlled the entire first set with them going up 9-2. They had a response to all of the Broncos attacks with each Deli point leading to a run from Nichols. The Bison closed out the first set 25-14. 

Nichols jumped out to a fast start against SUNY Delhi, quickly building a 4-1 lead behind an early service ace from St. Onge and a pair of attack errors by the home team. Delhi battled back to tie the set at 15-15, but Nichols responded with a clutch run powered by Frost, Kya Burdier, and Alyssa Morse, regaining control at 18-17. The Bison held steady in the final stretch, with Bezati and Morse delivering key kills and Morse finishing the set with a kill off a pass from Mullen to close the frame 25-19.

The deciding set began with both teams trading points early with neither able to build separation. Frost made an immediate impact with a pair of service aces and a kill to help Nichols stay in the lead. The teams continued to trade points, keeping the score close through 19-18, but Nichols began pulling away in the late stages. The Bison burst through with key kills from Morse, Frost, and Burdier, along with a late service ace from Frost helped the Bison close out the set 25-20 and secure the sweep.

The Bison will host The University of Hartford (3-6,0-0 CNE) at the Nichols Athletic Center for their conference season opener on Wednesday, September 24th 7:00pm.