FRANKLIN, Mass. -- The visiting Bridgewater State University volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 victory over Dean College on Friday afternoon at Pieri Gymnasium.
The Bears, who won by set scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-16, improve to 3-1 on the season. It marks the best start for the BSU volleyball program since 2013. The host Bulldogs fall to 0-2 on the young season.
Junior middle hitter Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.) paced Bridgewater State with a match-high 13 kills and a .400 hitting percentage. Junior defensive specialist Gabryella Serrano (Bridgewater, Mass.) added four kills, three aces and a match-best 18 digs for the Bears, while junior outside hitter Abigail Gardner (Holden, Mass.) checked in with six kills, two aces and six digs.
Junior setter Casey Holmes (Norton, Mass.) and freshman setter Savannah Quintal (Assonet, Mass.) combined for 21 assists for the visitors. Holmes notched a match-high 13 assists to go along with three kills, an ace and four digs, while Quintal tallied eight assists as well as three aces and three digs.
Bridgewater recorded 13 aces in the match. The Bears' defense limited the Bulldogs to a .024 hitting percentage and just four aces.
Sophomore outside hitter Miranda Marquez (San Pedro, Calif.) paced Dean with four kills, a pair of aces and ten digs. Freshman setter Sadie Homer (North Easton, Mass.) registered three kills, eight assists and three digs, while senior setter Melanie Rios-Nevarez (Vega Alta, Puerto Rico) five kills, six assists and eight digs.
The Bears entertain Regis College next Thursday evening at six. The Bulldogs travel to Norwich University for a one o'clock tri-match with MCLA and the host Cadets.