WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team posted a 1-1 record during day one action of the 2011 Crabtree Classic hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday.

The Bears (8-11) defeated Wheaton College, 3-1, in their first match of the day before dropping a 3-0 decision to defending Crabtree Classic champion, Eastern Connecticut.

After losing the opening game against Wheaton, 16-25, Bridgewater rebounded by taking the next three games, 25-16, 25-10 and 25-16.  Tayler Beck (Marion, Mass.) paced the Bears with 12 kills and four blocks, while Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) notched 32 assists, four kills and 10 digs, and Kristen Robillard (Swansea, Mass.) added 17 digs and a pair of aces.  Sarah Mullarkey (Salem, Mass.) chipped in with six kills, seven digs and three blocks.

Robillard finished with 19 digs in the loss to Eastern Connecticut.  Appleman checked in with 15 assists and two aces, Shayna Carmichael (Westport, Mass.) registered three blocks and Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.) tallied five kills and three aces.

Host Eastern Connecticut swept a pair of matches Friday night defeating Bridgewater and Worcester State University.  Eastern faces the University of New England Saturday at 11 a.m. and Wheaton College at 1 p.m. on Saturday.  UNE is also 2-0 in the tournament after sweeping Worcester State and Wheaton. Wheaton and Worcester State are 0-2.

The Crabtree Classic resumes tomorrow as Bridgewater will take on Worcester State at 11:00 AM followed by a one o'clock match against UNE.