MILTON, Mass. – The visiting Bridgewater State University volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to non-conference foe Curry College in a tightly contested match on Tuesday evening at Katz Gymnasium.
The host Colonels improve to 7-9 on the season, while the Bears fall to 7-11.
The first three sets were decided by two points each, while the fourth set was a three point difference. After dropping the opener, 24-26, Curry bounced back to win the finals three set, 26-24, 25-23 and 25-22.
The Colonels were led by sophomore outside hitter Grace Stafford (West Yarmouth, Mass.) who recorded a match-high 18 kills to go along with 15 digs and one ace. Junior middle blocker Nicole Rice (Woburn, Mass.) contributed 12 kills, a match-best .357 hitting percentage and four solo blocks, while senior outside hitter Nicole Grambley (North Attleboro, Mass.) added 12 kills, 13 digs and an ace. Senior setter Alyssa Keeney (Coventry, Conn.) chipped in with a match-high 45 assists and four aces as well as 11 digs.
Curry finished with ten aces in the match, but recorded ten serving errors. The Colonels also notched eight team blocks compare to just two for the Bears.
Senior outside hitter Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) paced Bridgewater State with 15 kills, a .300 hitting percentage and 11 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Erin Clifford (Hanson, Mass.) and senior outside hitter Clara Goncalves (Dennis, Mass.) added 13 kills and 11 kills, respectively, while senior setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, Mass.) tallied 43 assists, a pair of kills and 17 digs. Sophomore libero Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsford, Mass.) led all players with 38 digs.
With her 43 assists, Panner increased her career total to 2,960 as she moved into a tie for second place on the Bears' all-time list. Former standout Heather Simmons also record 2,960 career assists from 1994 to 1997. Shawna O'Neill, who competed at Bridgewater State from 1998 to 2001, is the program's all-time leader with 2,977 assists.
Both teams are back in action on Thursday evening at six. The Bears host non-conference foe Salve Regina University, while the Colonels entertain Commonwealth Coast Conference rival Roger Williams University.