NEW LONDON, Conn. (9/15/2026) – The Nichols College women's volleyball team dropped in straight sets tonight against the Bears of the United States Coast Guard Academy at the Roland Gymnasium.
With the losses, the Bison fall to 0-8 overall on the season while the Bears move on to 5-2.
Freshman
Sofia Novak led the Bison offensively with six kills, while freshman
Rayna Joquin added four and Senior
Jhudny Pierre chipped in three. Junior
Liliana Bottone and freshman
Naseem Hennouch each recorded an ace from the service line, while freshman
Ella Pratt anchored the net with three blocks. Freshman
Lena Heini and Hennouch shared the setting duties with eight assists apiece, while Novak and freshman
Kaitlyn Rodrigues paced the defensive effort with nine digs each. Hennouch also added five digs for the Bison.
Coast Guard opened the match by striking first and building an early three-point lead behind four kills, with the Bison answering with a kill from Novak. Nichols pushed back, leaning on Novak and Joquin to deadlock the set at five. The Bears responded with a strong eight-point run that was halted by an attack error. The Bison continued to battle but could not overcome the deficit. Nichols added six more points, highlighted by a kill from Bottone and an ace from Hennouch, before the Bears closed out the set, 25-12.
The second set followed a similar script as the Bears quickly built an 8-2 advantage, with Nichols finding offense from Pratt and Novak. Coast Guard continued to apply pressure with a series of runs, limiting the Bison's opportunities to respond and taking the second set, 25-11.
Nichols found its first lead of the match in the third set after striking first on a kill from Bottone. The Bison continued to add to their advantage, highlighted by a kill from Novak, before extending the lead to seven behind a kill from Pierre. The Bears answered with a 9-2 run to regain control of the set. Nichols attempted to fight back with a block from Pratt followed by a kill from Novak, but Coast Guard held on to complete the sweep, 25-17.
The Bison will remain on the road for their next matchup on Friday, September 18th, when they travel to Lewiston, Maine, to take on the Bates College Bobcats at Underhill Arena.
