BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The Bridgewater State University volleyball team opened the 2023 season with a 3-0 setback to the University of New England on Tuesday night at UNE's Harold Alfond Forum.

The host Nor'easters (3-1) won the match by set scores of 25-10, 25-22 and 25-16.

Sophomore outside hitter Ellijah Hanley (Pupukea, Hawaii) and junior outside hitter Viktoria Pavlyuk (Westfield, Mass.) paced UNE with 11 kills and ten kills, respectively. Pavlyuk added a pair of assisted blocks.

Sophomore middle blocker Kailyn Reilly (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) checked in with six kills and an impressive .667 hitting percentage for the Nor'easters, while junior defensive specialist Addie Miller (Wilmington, Dela.) notched a match-best five aces and 14 digs. sophomore setter Kassidy Bradshaw (San Antonio, Texas) dished out a match-high 24 assists.

Sophomore right side Meaghan Coutu (Brookline, N.H.) paced Bridgewater State with six kills, a .313 hitting percentage and one assisted block. Sophomore outside hitter Kim Gowell (Durham, N.H.) added five kills for the Bears, while freshman setter Xin Ai Robinson (Evans Mills, N.Y.) and senior setter Bethany Votta (Cumberland, R.I.) tallied 11 assists apiece. Freshman libero Lilly Misay (New Bedford, Mass.) contributed 12 digs. Robinson and Misay were making their collegiate debuts.

UNE posted a .255 team hitting percentage and recorded 11 aces on the evening with nine serving errors. BSU finished with a .157 hitting percentag and two aces with 11 serving errors. 

The Bears (0-1) travel to Salve Regina University on Saturday for a tri-match with the host Seahawks and Rivier College starting at 11:00 AM. The Nor'easters travel to Wellesley College on Saturday afternoon for two o'clock match with the Blue.