WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State University women's volleyball team rallied for a 3-2 victory (13-25, 25-17, 16-25, 25-22, 16-14) over rival Bridgewater State University in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener on Tuesday, Sept. 17. 

Westfield improved its overall record to 7-4 with the thrilling come-from-behind victory. Bridgewater is 4-7. 

Senior outside hitters Lindsay Rescott (19 kills) and Julia Warner (17 digs, 13 kills) paced the Owls, while the Bears were led by Michelle Atkins (11 kills, 9 blocks), Kristen Robillard (19 digs), Charleyne Panner (41 assists, 11 digs, 5 kills) and Hannah Maymon (12 kills, 16 digs).

Bridgewater coasted to a 25-13 triumph in the first game then Westfield evened the set with a 25-17 decision in the second game. The Bears took the third game, 25-16, but Westfield evened the match again by pulling out the fourth game, 25-22.

Rescott rallied the Owls with kills on the 23rd and 24th points, and junior setter Carolyn Cote clinched the victory with an unexpected dump attack for the 25th point.

With the score knotted at 5-5 in the fifth game, Westfield went on a 5-1 run to take a 10-6 advantage. Prescott and Warner recorded kills during the key run and freshmen Kelsey Reilly and Casey Doremus teamed up for a big block. 

A Rescott kill gave the Owls a 14-10 lead, but Bridgewater scored four consecutive points with the aid of three Westfield errors for a 14-14 deadlock. 

Reilly regained the lead for the host team with a kill. The Owls then clinched the victory when the Bears were unable to get the ball over the net on three hits.

Cote collected a team-high 33 assists and Kayleigh Shea and Sarah Green finished with 13 and 12 digs, respectively. Carole Duquette finished with three blocks.

Sydney Bennett added eight kills and five blocks (two solo) for the Bears, while Danielle Dean chipped in with five kills and 14 digs.