NEWTON, Mass. – In the first game between the women's volleyball programs of Mount Ida College and Bridgewater State University, the visiting Bears scored a three-set decision, winning by scores of 25-14, 28-26 and 25-18 on Monday night at the Mount Ida Athletic Center.

Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) had 28 assists and also served four service aces and collected six digs for the visiting Bears, while Michelle Atkins (Chelsea, Mass.) led all players with 12 kills, as Bridgewater State improved to 6-7.

Hillary Kostner (Corona, Calif.) led the Mustangs with 9 kills, and Mount Ida had a chance to tie the match at a game apiece in a close second set. The home team led 24-22, and twice fought off game points, but two kills by Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) delivered the extra point victory for the Bears.

Junior Nicole Peixoto (New Bedford, Mass.) picked up 23 assists in a losing effort for Mount Ida while libero Kelcey Koolman (Bedford, N.H.) led the Mustangs with 12 digs and two service aces, a serving feat matched by Kostner.

The visitors jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first set, led by two quick aces by Panner right out of the gate. Panner also started the second set with aces on the first two points, and then consecutive blocks by the tandem of Atkins and Julie Hutchins (Bellingham, Mass.), who had four blocks, helped the Bears extend their advantage. The Mustangs fought back to take a 13-11 lead on a kill by Kostner and continued to lead by two points at 20-18 thanks to the work of Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, Conn.), who had five kills off the bench.

Kills by Maymon, Emily Boyer (Stockbridge, Mass.) and Sydney Bennett (North Attleboro, Mass.) helped the Bears come back and emerge with the win.

In the third set, Bridgewater State took a 4-0 lead with the benefit of just one kill. They would open up their advantage to 18-10 during a serving stretch by Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.), which included one of Dean's ten kills on the night.

BSU senior libero Kristen Robillard (Swansea, Mass.) recorded 12 digs in the match as she moved past Kelly Taylor (1,157 digs) and into fifth place on the Bears' all-time digs list. Robillard now has 1,158 digs in three seasons at Bridgewater State. 

Nicole Batakis (East Longmeadow, Mass.) had six kills for the Mustangs and freshman Lucianna Medici (Riverside, R.I.) had 8 digs.

Mount Ida (2-12) has another non-conference home match on Thursday night when they welcome Newbury College into town for a 6:00 pm start.

Bridgewater State will play a tri-match at Salem State on Saturday that will include Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opponents in the Vikings, as well as non-conference foe Suffolk.