BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team blanked the visiting Nighthawks of Newbury College, 3-0, on Thursday evening at the Tinsley Center.

Bridgewater won for the third time in the last four matches as the Bears improved to 7-6 on the season.  The set scores were 26-24, 25-13 and 25-20.  Newbury saw its' modest two-game winning streak come to an end as the Nighthawks fall to 8-12 overall.

Junior setter Melanie Appleman (Hyannis, Mass.) paced the hosts with 26 assists, four kills, six digs and an ace.  Appleman now has 1,486 assists in her career. Junior middle hitter Michelle Atkins (Chelsea, Mass.) recorded nine kills and a .316 hitting percentage, and junior outside hitter Danielle Dean (Gilford, N.H.) added seven kills and ten digs for the Bears.

Junior libero Kristen Robillard (Swansea, Mass.) recorded a team best three aces to go along with five digs.  Junior right side Emily Boyer (Stockbridge, Mass.) chipped in with six kills, a .444 hitting percentage and eight assists, while freshman middle hitter Julie Hutchins (Bellingham, Mass.) rang up six kills as well as a .455 hitting percentage and recorded BSU's only two blocks of the night, both solo.

The Bears posted a team .235 hitting percentage and finished with seven aces in the match.

Newbury was led by sophomore middle hitter Syndey Fish (Kalamazoo, Mich.) who notched a team-best eighth kills and three aces in addition to four digs.  Senior setter Regina Sibilia (Agawam, Mass.) dished out 14 assists, while senior libero Talia Martinez (Malibu, Calif.) added four kills and a team-high nine digs.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater takes on UMass Dartmouth and Gordon College in a tri-match hosted by the Fighting Scots on Saturday beginning at 11:00 AM.  Newbury hosts Salve Regina University next Tuesday night at seven.