BRISTOL, R.I. – The Bridgewater State University volleyball team opened the two-day Roger Williams Invitational with  a 3-1 setback to the University of New England on Friday night at the RWU Campus Rec Center. Set scores were 25-22, 25-9, 20-25, and 25-23.

The Bears slip to 5-8 on the season with the setback, while the Nor'easters improve to 8-6.

Winners in five of their last six matches, the Nor'easters received a team-high nine kills from freshman outside hitter Katie Flynn (Merrimack, N.H.).  Flynn also shared the team-high for digs (16) with junior setter Kristen Falcinelli (Silver Spring, Md.), who put up 36 assists and three aces. Senior middle hitter Grayson Szczepaniak (Lakewood, Ohio) notched seven kills, two blocks, and a pair of aces. Senior outside hitter Erika Sawicki (Wilbraham, Mass.) added seven kills, and sophomore outside hitter Rene Roggenbuck (Goffstown, N.H.) contributed six kills along with 3.5 blocks.

BSU sophomore middle blocker Erin Clifford (Hanson, Mass.) paced the Bears with a match-high 13 kills and a career-best .458 hitting percentage. Clifford also notched a pair of aces, four digs and a career-high five blocks (two solo). Senior outside hitter Clara Goncalves (Dennis, Mass.) checked in with nine kills, while classmate Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I.) added six kills to go along with two aces. Senior setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) dished out 31 assists, and sophomore libero Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded a match-high 32 digs.

The RWU Invitational continues on Saturday afternoon as the Bears take on Emmanuel College at three and Worcester State University at five.