KEENE, NH (9/10/2026) – The Nichols College women's volleyball team battled hard against Keene State ,falling in three sets (10-25,18-25, 17-25) tonight in the Spaulding Gymnasium .
With the loss, the Bison fall to 0-5 overall on the season while the Owls improve to 3-2.
Junior
Liliana Bottone led the Bison offensively with six kills, while sophomore
Alyssa Morse added five and freshman
Sofia Novak contributed four. Other Nichols players recorded three kills each. Junior
Elizabeth Mullen found success from the service line with three aces, while freshman
Rayna Joquin protected the net with two blocks. Freshmen
Lena Heini and
Naseem Hennouch orchestrated the Bison offense, with Heini recording 11 assists and Hennouch adding nine. Bottone also anchored the backline with eight digs, while Morse contributed six.
The Owls came out strong in the opening set, building an early 8-4 lead over the Bison. Mullen helped spark the Bison with three consecutive service aces to bring Nichols within one. Keene State responded with a run of its own, eventually taking a 17-9 lead behind several Nichols errors. Novak and Morse produced a few points to try to spark the Bison, but the Owls continued to maintain their advantage. Nichols battled late in the set, but Keene State closed out the opening frame on a 9-1 run to take the set, 25-10.
The Bison opened the second set by taking their first lead of the night, stringing together three quick points from
Jhudny Pierre, Joquin, and a Keene State error. Both teams traded points throughout the frame, with the Owls eventually taking a 14-12 lead. The deficit proved too much to overcome as Keene State continued to pull away, answering each Bison point with two of its own before coasting to a 25-18 set victory.
The Bison battled early in the third set, trading points with the Owls before Keene State opened up an 8-2 lead behind a strong serving run. Nichols responded with a stretch of points from Morse, Novak, and Bottone to cut the deficit to 9-14. T Keene State regained control late, extending its advantage to 24-14. Nichols mounted a late rally, with Novak recording a kill and Bottone adding a service ace before another Bottone service error ended the set, 25-17 sealing the sweep 3-0.
The Bison will return home for the Bison September Tri-Match this Saturday, September 12th, where they will take on the Westfield State Owls at 11:00 a.m. before wrapping up the tri-match against the Rhode Island College Anchormen at 3:00 p.m.
